He was admired as a great warrior throughout the Heian period and became a legendary hero in later periods; before World War II, Michizane SUGAWARA and SAKANOUE no Tamuramaro were regarded as representing, respectively, the best literary and military traditions among the Japanese people.
平安時代を通じて優れた武人として尊崇され、後代に様々な伝説を生み、また戦前までは、文の菅原道真と、武の坂上田村麻呂は、文武のシンボル的存在とされた。