In 1593, because his older brother, Kunitomo Ashikaga, took ill and perished in Aki Province while enroute to Kyushu during the Bunroku campaign, Kunitomo's lawful wife, Ujihime Ashikaga, was remarried to Yoriuji, whereupon he succeeded the Kitsuregawa clan which was the descendants of the Ashikaga clan.
天正20年（1593年）、兄の足利国朝が文禄の役で九州に赴く途上の安芸国で病死したため、兄の正室であった足利氏姫が頼氏と再婚することで足利氏後裔喜連川氏の名跡を継いだ。