Kinto was a son of FUJIWARA no Yoritada, the then Kanpaku (chief advisor to the Emperor) whose talent was recognized from his childhood, and participated in the utaawase of the previous year.
公任は当時の関白藤原頼忠の子であるが、幼くしてその才能は認められ、前年の歌合にも参加していた。