Although Ichiyo was shizoku, since her family had been farmers, she was treated as a commoner; she became introverted, and senior pupils from the upper social class called her 'monotsutsumi no kimi' (literally, close-natured person).
士族とはいえ元農民出身であったため、一葉は平民組として扱われ、上流階級の姉弟子たちにから「ものつつみの君」と呼ばれるほど内向的になる。