Toshitari served as Daihitsu (senior assistant president) to the Shibi chudai (the office handled the principal Empress Komyo's affairs) which was established by FUJIWARA no Nakamaro (the second son of Muchimaro), and barely maintained his standing as a middle class nobility.
年足は、武智麻呂次男の藤原仲麻呂が設立した紫微中台の大弼としてその補佐に当たり、中流貴族としてなんとかその命脈を保った。