When the Empress Koken passed away in 770, he, as a councilor, helped to enthrone the Emperor Konin, with FUJIWARA no Nagate and so on, then he was promoted from Chunagon (Vice-Councilor of the State) to Dainagon Shosanmi (Councilor of the State, Senior Third Court Rank).
宝亀元年（770年）孝謙天皇が没した時、参議として藤原永手などとともに光仁天皇を擁立、中納言を経て、大納言正三位にいたる。