The diary is praised as a work that surpasses simple war records for its impressive stories of individuals such as those of Sadato's followers who had surrendered used a comb to, while in tears, tidy the hair of his decapitated head after it arrived in the capital; the death of an old samurai named Tsunenori SAEKI who died after fighting bravely; ABE no Norito's wife who jumped to her death with her baby in her arms.
都に届けられた貞任の首級に降人となった郎党が泣きながらクシで髪を整えたこと、老武士の佐伯経範の奮戦死、安倍則任の妻の幼子を抱いての投身等。個人の印象的な説話により、単なる合戦記録を超えた文学として評価されている。