In 1094, his retainers chased and captured TAIRA no Morotae, who had attacked the governer of Dewa Province, and he became the same governmental rank as his older brother when he was awarded the Jushiijo (Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade), and at the Jimoku in January of the following year, he was made the governer of Mino, a province of higher status than Mutsu.
翌年の1094年（寛治8）には出羽国守を襲撃した在地の開拓領主・平師妙（もろたえ）を郎党に追捕させ、従四位上に叙されて官位は兄義家と並び、翌年の1095年（嘉保2）正月の除目で、事実上陸奥よりも格の高い美濃国守に就任する。