Yoshitomo and Yoshiyasu moved to improve their relationship with the Emperor Toba and FUJIWARA no Tadamichi, and Yoshitomo was appointed as kokushu of Shimotsuke Province in 1153.
そして義康とともに義朝は鳥羽天皇や藤原忠通にも接近、仁平3年（1153年）には下野国守に任じられる。