The reason for this is thought to be whether his wife was taken hostage by Mitsunari, or he was on the side of Toyotomi from the beginning, or it was a measure to keep their family name of Maeda clan when either side was defeated.
その原因は妻が三成の人質となっていたたとも、元々豊臣方であったためとも、どちらが敗れても前田氏の家名を残そうとする策であったともいわれる。