He was adopted by Shigeyoshi UESUGI (the Takuma-Uesugi family), but the foster father was assassinated by KO no Moronao who was a steward in the Ashikaga family, due to his defeat of political war.
上杉重能（詫間上杉家）の養子となるが、養父は足利家の執事であった高師直との政争に敗れ暗殺されている。