He especially liked to read love stories such as Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji) and so on, and it is said that when Kenshin went up to Kyoto for Uta-kai (poem competition) everyone was surprised to hear his splendid Gaka (koiuta (lovers poetry)).
特に源氏物語を始めとする恋愛物を好んで読んでおり、上洛した際に開催した歌会でも見事な雅歌（恋歌）を読み、参加者全員を驚かせたと言う。