He was a son of Tsuneie KIRA, the third head of the early Tojo-Kira clan in Kiranosho, Hazu County, Mikawa Province (Kira-cho, Hazu County, Aichi Prefecture) and became the first head of Kira clan of Oshu Kanrei (governor of Oshu [Mutsu province]), working towards repression of the Southern Court (Japan) force in Mutsu Province.
三河国幡豆郡吉良荘（愛知県幡豆郡吉良町）の前期東条吉良氏の第三代吉良経家の子で、奥州管領吉良氏の初代となり、陸奥国の南朝(日本)勢力の鎮撫に努めた。