During the period from the Meiji Restoration to the end of World War Ⅱ, he was favorably appraised by the Kokoku Shikan (emperor-centered historiography which is based on state Shinto) as a loyal subject next to Masashige KUSUNOKI who followed the Emperor Godaigo in contrast with 'gyakuzoku' (rebel) Takauji ASHIKAGA, and his biography became a tale for kodan (story-telling) etc.
明治維新から戦前にかけては、皇国史観のもと、「逆賊」足利尊氏に対して後醍醐天皇に従った忠臣として楠木正成に次ぐ英傑として好意的に評価され、講談などで物語化された。