The Shimotsuma clan was a clan which served Hongan-ji Temple from the time of Shinran, and although Raisho was of collateral descendant, he was dispatched to Echizen as the supreme commander of the Ikko-Ikki riot by Kennyo and was recognized as the actual Shugo (military governor) or Shugodai (deputy military governor) of Echizen as written in "Asakura Shimatsuki."
下間氏は親鸞の時代から本願寺に仕えた一族で、頼照はやや傍流にあたるが、顕如によって一向一揆の総大将として越前に派遣され、『朝倉始末記』の記述やその発給文書から実質的な越前の守護、あるいは守護代であったと認識されている。