Once six members of the KOTOKUI family achieved the status of the Kugyo (a court noble), they petitioned for the status of peerage after the Meiji Restoration; however, their petition was denied by the Meiji government
明治維新後、歴代中公卿を6名輩出した実績を根拠に華族への取立てを請願するも、明治政府より却下されている。