The Battle of Minatogawa and the 'Sakurai no wakare' (separation in Sakurai) in which Masashige sent his son and heir Masatsura KUSUNOKI back to his headquarters in Kawachi Province were dramatized in pre-war Emperor-centered nationalistic views and songs depicting Masashige fighting loyally for the emperor despite the fact that he knew the battle could not be won.
湊川の戦いや、正成が出陣前に嫡子の楠木正行を本拠地の河内国へ帰した「桜井の別れ」などは、戦前の皇国史観教育や唱歌などで、正成が勝てぬ戦と知りながら天皇のために忠義を尽くして死んだなどと脚色して伝えられた。