His father, Motonaga, wielded power in Awa Province and Yamashiro Province as an influential main retainer under Harumoto HOSOKAWA, however, Harumoto feared Motonaga's growing power and killed him in 1532 with the help of Ikko sect.
父・元長は細川晴元配下の有力な重臣で、阿波国や山城国に勢力を誇っていたが、天文(元号)元年（1532年）に元長の勢力を恐れた晴元は一向宗の力を借りて、元長を殺害してしまった。