"Nihonshoki" quotes the lines from "Original records of Paekche" ('the article in the Original records of Paekche says that King Anjang of Goguryeo encountered rebellion from his subjects and was murdered in 531. Around the same time, Japanese Emperor, Crown Prince and Prince were killed altogether by their subjects.') to introduce a theory that the Emperor, Crown Prince and Prince died at the same time, which hints the possibility that Keitai was actually killed in a political turmoil ('Xinhai Incident' theory).
また『日本書紀』では、『百済本記』（「百濟本記爲文其文云大歳辛亥三月軍進至于安羅營乞乇城是月高麗弑其王安又聞日本天皇及太子皇子倶崩薨由此而言辛亥之歳當廿五年矣」）を引用して、天皇及び太子、皇子が同時に死んだとの説を紹介しており、何らかの政変によって継体自身が殺害された可能性もある（「辛亥の変」説）。