An anecdote is told about this, however, that Tadataka OKUBO strongly insisted that the flag was never fallen, because he worried that if it was revealed that the failure of Hata bugyo was attributable to failure of Ieyasu who left such an important post as Hata bugyo to newcomers by neglecting senior fudaishu (hereditary daimyo), no opportunity would be left for old-age Ieyasu to clear such dishonor.
ところが、大久保忠教は旗奉行の不首尾は古参譜代衆を差し置いて新参者に旗奉行のような要職を任せた家康の失態であり、高齢の家康には汚名返上の機会はないと思い、旗は倒れなかったと主張して聞かなかったという逸話がある。