However, since his father Yoshifusa struggled with Sadaie KIRA, Kuniuji HATAKEYAMA (Oshu Kanrei, shogunal deputy of the northern regions) and others and fell from grace over the right to rule in Mutsu Province, he followed Naoyoshi ASHIKAGA and opposed to Takauji in the Kanno Disturbance.
しかし父・義房が陸奥国における支配権をめぐって吉良貞家や畠山国氏(奥州管領)らと抗争して失脚したため、観応の擾乱では足利直義に従って尊氏と敵対した。