Because his sister became a consort of Emperor Kanmu, he was highly honored and in 785 was conferred the rank of Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) and made Mutsu no Suke (assistant governor of Mutsu Province) before going on to successively hold positions including Shonagon (lesser councilor of state), Togu no Daibu (Master of the Crown Prince's Quarters), Udaiben (Major Controller of the Right), and Dazai no Daini (Senior Assistant Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices).
妹が桓武天皇の後宮に入ったために重んじられ、785年（延暦4年）従五位下に叙されると、陸奥介を振り出しに、以後少納言・春宮大夫・右大弁・大宰大弐などを歴任した。