The former Ako retainers and their descendants were labeled as 'unfaithful retainers who did not participate in the heroic deed' and were looked down upon even from commoners, and they had to hide their place of birth and change their names because they were unable to buy even miso or soy sauce.
元赤穂藩士たち、およびその子孫は町人からさえ「義挙に加わらなんだ不忠者」と蔑まれ、味噌、醤油さえ売ってもらえず、出自を隠して変名を名乗るほかなかったとも伝えられる。