Through waka (31-syllable Japanese poems), he had close relations with middle class nobles, such as MINAMOTO no Toshiyori, FUJIWARA no Tametada, FUJIWARA no Toshitada, FUJIWARA no Toshinari and FUJIWARA no Ienari, and he was also invited to the poetry contest held by the regent, FUJIWARA no Moromichi.
和歌の道を通して源俊頼、藤原為忠、藤原俊忠、藤原俊成、藤原家成などといった中級貴族と親交が厚く、また摂政藤原師通の歌合にも招かれている。