In the imperial palace during the Reign of Showa Emperor, this outstanding prize-winning waka by grandmaster Zen'ya Kuni'i was given the highest prize at a monthly imperial poetry contest, on the surprise waka title of "doctrine". He was therewith awarded a mother-of-pearl lettercase. Grandmaster Kuni'i was still very young, as an apprentice of Professor Sadasuke Imaizumi. During a tight security period before the World War II, it was very limited for people other than members of royal, or noble families, to enter the palace. He could enter the palace then as the guard attendant of Professor Imaizumi, who had given a generous recommendation for his joining in the contest.

(commentary by Humitake Seki)