The word "kokushi kasei" might present an image of one-sided deprivation by kokushi tormenting weak farmers, but in fact, not only farmers sometimes appealed to the court, but also there was even a case where more than a dozen mounted horsemen of the Tanba indigenous people attacked and burned the residence of Governor of Tanba Province FUJIWARA no Sukenari at Nakagomon, Kyoto in December 1023 (Shoyuki (The Diary of FUJIWARA no Sanesuke)).
国司苛政と言うと国司側の一方的収奪で、弱い農民が苦しめられたとのイメージが抱かれやすいが、ときには上訴のどころか、治安3年（1023年）12月には丹波国守藤原資業（すけなり）の京都中御門の屋敷を丹波国人騎兵十数人が焼討ち（小右記）にしたことまである。