He gained career advancement when his father, Kaneie, became Regent and gained control of authority, but he had a low profile because he was the 5th son with powerful brothers, such as Michitaka and Michikane, but he got closer to the reins of power when Michitaka and Michikane, who became Regent and Senior Regent after Kaneie's death, died one after another due to illnesses.
父の兼家が摂政になり権力を握ると栄達するが、五男であり道隆、道兼という有力な兄がいたためさほど目立たない存在だったが、兼家の死後に摂関となった道隆、道兼が相次いで病没して権力に近づく。