Hiroaki served as Bandai (deputy and guardian of the family head) until Okifusa SUE, the third son of Hiromori, his older brother, attained manhood and also as Shugodai in Suo and Chikuzen Provinces, while holding a fort and attending to government affairs in the domain when Yoshioki OUCHI, his lord, visited Kyoto.
兄・弘護の三男の陶興房が成人するまで番代（当主代行・後見人）を務めて周防国及び筑前両国の守護代職を務め、主君・大内義興の上洛中は留守を守って領内の政務を執り行った。