Kanemichi, who hated his younger brother, Kaneie, intended to make Yoritada his successor fearing that Kaneie who had a higher official rank than Kanemichi's children would occupy the position of the kanpaku after Kanemichi's death.
弟の兼家を憎悪する兼通は、自分の死後に自分の子供達より官位が上である兼家が関白の地位を占める事を恐れて頼忠を自らの後継にしようと考えていた。