He initially served Sekkan-ke (the families which produced regents) as Koto (a secretary) of Samurai-dokoro (the Board of Retainers) under FUJIWARA no Tadamichi and was later allowed to join Hokumen no bushi (the Imperial Palace Guards for the north side) for Emperor Goshirakawa.
当初、藤原忠通の下で侍所の勾当として摂関家に近侍したが、後に後白河天皇の北面武士に加えられる。