He had become a Buddhist monk at Sofuku-ji Temple (Gifu City) when he was young, however, he quit the priesthood and took over the reigns of the family, as his father and elder brother died in a battle against Sukemasa AZAI in 1525.
幼少時に崇福寺(岐阜市)で僧侶となっていたが、大永5年（1525年）に父と兄が牧田の戦いで浅井亮政と戦って戦死したため、還俗して家督を継いだ。