When his father, Kanemichi, became kanpaku (chief advisor to Emperor), he was promoted to court noble; however, when Kanemichi died, Kanemichi's younger brother, FUJIWARA no Kaneie, became the head of the family.
父の兼通が関白になると、昇進して公卿に列するが、兼通の死後はその弟の藤原兼家が主導権を握るようになる。