It is said that after the death of his father, Masashige, in the Battle of Minato-gawa River in 1336, when his severed head reached him, he was so shocked in spite of his previous preparation of mind as to enter into Butsuma (a room for Buddha staue) and tried to kill himself with a short sword named 'Kikusui' which was a remembrance of his father, but changed his mind by his real mother's admonishment.
延元元年/建武(日本)3年（1336年）の湊川の戦いで父の正成が戦死した後、覚悟していたこととはいえ、父・正成の首級が届き、衝撃のあまり仏間に入り父の形見の菊水の短刀で自刃しようとしたが、生母に諭され改心したという。