He was an influential retainer of the Taira family, who was born to the Ito clan of FUJIWARA no Hidesato house, based in Furuichi-so in Watarai District, Ise Province.
伊勢国度会郡の古市荘を基盤とする藤原秀郷流伊藤氏の出身で、平家譜代の有力家人である。