In the early Edo period, officers in this post, called kinju shuttoyaku (an attendant to Shogun) at that time, were selected from 5000-koku class hatamoto (direct retainers of the bakufu) who were involved in important affairs as close aides of Shogun, and in particular, played a role of relaying important matters.
江戸時代初期には近習出頭役と呼ばれ、5000石級の旗本で、将軍の側衆として枢機に預かる者の中から選任され、特に重要事項の伝奏を役目とした。