He was the menoto (foster father) of the Emperor Godaigo, who was a son of Gouda, and served Godaigo, who commenced direct Imperial rule in 1321 in place of the retired Emperor Gouda and called 'nochi no san fusa' (later three 'fusa's) together with Chikafusa KITABATAKE and Nobufusa MADENOKOJI.
後宇多の子の後醍醐天皇の乳父で、1321年(元亨元年)に後宇多院に代わり親政をはじめた後醍醐に仕え、北畠親房、万里小路宣房と合わせて「後の三房」と呼ばれた。