On January 26, 1160 (December 9, 1159 in old lunar calendar), his father Yoshitomo succeeded in carrying out a coup d'etat in collaboration with FUJIWARA no Nobuyori, the favorite retainer of the Retired Emperor Goshirakawa, and occupied Kyo (Kyoto) after killing FUJIWARA no Shinzei, who had taken control of the Imperial Court at that time.
平治元年（1159年）12月9日、父義朝は後白河上皇の寵臣藤原信頼と結んでクーデターを起こし、当時の朝廷の実力者藤原信西を殺害して京を占拠。