A sworn friend of Katai, Toson SHIMAZAKI later wrote "Shinsei," which shocked even Katai by the contents of the novel confessing the love affair of Toson with his own niece.
花袋の盟友ともいうべき島崎藤村は、その後、姪との情事を描いた『新生』を書いて花袋にも衝撃を与えた。