On June 8, 990, his father Michitaka succeeded his grandfather Kaneie as Sessho (Regent), and in October 990, his younger sister of the same mother Teishi became chugu (the second consort of an emperor); accordingly, he was also promoted by leaps and bounds as the legitimate son of the Sekkan family.
正暦元年（990年）5月8日、祖父兼家の後をついで父道隆が摂政に就任し、さらに同年10月中宮に同母妹定子が立つと、摂関家の嫡男としてその地位は飛躍的に上昇した。