Although Hanakata is mentioned in narration books, this episode is not mentioned in Enkyohon (books copied in Enkyo era), which is believed to be an old form of the yomihon (literally, reading books, an Edo period woodblock printed novel prevalent from the mid to late Edo period that focused on serious and penetrating studies of human affairs), and his status was too low for In's messenger; therefore this episode could be mere fiction.
花方については、語り本系には見られるが読み本系の古態とされる延慶本には記されてないこと、院宣の使者としては身分が低すぎることから創作の可能性もある。