The reason for the popularity of a bandit like him lies in the fact that he was used as a subject in joruri (dramatic narrative chanted to a samisen accompaniment) and kabuki (traditional drama performed by male actors) and he was gradually portrayed as a thief who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and furthermore, the script in which he tries to kill the powerful ruler, Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI, won the hearts of the commoners.
盗賊の彼が人気を博した理由は、浄瑠璃や歌舞伎の演題としてとりあげられ、これらの創作の中で次第に義賊として扱われるようになったこと、また権力者豊臣秀吉の命を狙うという筋書きが庶民の心を捉えたことにもよるであろう。