A great-grandchild of MINAMOTO no Yoshiie (who was also known as Hachiman Taro), Yoshikane was the oldest son of MINAMOTO no Yoshimoto, the head of the Ishikawa-Genji (Minamoto clan) in Kawachi Province.
源義家（八幡太郎）の曾孫で、河内国石川源氏棟梁の源義基の長男。