During the Kanno Disturbance, which developed from the opposition within the Ashikaga government between Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA, a younger brother of Takauji, and a group led by Takauji and his steward KO no Moronao, Yoriharu joined the Moronao group and ruled Echizen Province as its Shugo by driving Takatsune SHIBA, a member of the Tadayoshi group, out of the Shugo position.
のちに足利政権において尊氏の弟である足利直義と尊氏、執事の高師直との対立から内紛に発展した観応の擾乱が起こると頼春は師直派に属し、直義派であった斯波高経から越前国の守護職を奪取する。