The representative poet of the Asuka period. With 133 poems in the "Manyoshu," he has been called "the saint of poetry" since ancient times. A court poet who served Emperors Tenmu, Jito, and Monmu, he established the diverse poetic styles of the Manyoshu: songs of praise for emperors and imperial family ("hoguta"), elegies mourning the dead ("banka"), and exchange poems singing of nature ("somonka"). The poetry group separately compiled as the "Kakinomoto Hitomaro Poetry Collection" is also included in the Manyoshu. He is said to have died in Iwami Province (Shimane), and Kakimoto Shrine associated with him is in Masuda City, Shimane. The Hyakunin Isshu includes his poem: "Will I sleep alone through this long, long night as long as the trailing tail of the copper pheasant of the mountain?"

A pioneer of Japanese poetry who sang of heaven, earth, nature, and the full range of human joy and sorrow on a grand scale. While composing songs of praise for the emperor as a court poet, his exchange poems expressing deep love for his wife were also heartfelt, demonstrating the pinnacle of Japanese poetry in both public and private dimensions.

He continues to receive the highest evaluation from later generations as "the saint of poetry." As the spiritual pillar of the Manyoshu, he created the origin of poetic expression in the Japanese language. Kakimoto Shrine in Masuda City, Shimane is still revered as a god of poetry today.