At the same time, as a son of Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor) FUJIWARA no Yoritada, his future was deemed promising; he was promoted to Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade), an unusually high rank for his age, on March 9, 980, at his coming of age celebration in the Imperial Palace, and a crown was put on his head by Emperor Enyu, according to "Nihongi Ryaku" (Summary of Japanese chronologies) and "Fuso Ryakki" (A brief History of Japan), although in the latter, this event was erroneously compiled in Sannenjo (the article in the year 980) of "Fusoki".
また、関白藤原頼忠の子として天元3年2月15日に内裏にて円融天皇自らの加冠により元服して異例の正五位下が授けられる（『日本紀略』・『扶桑略記』、ただし後者には同3年条に誤って入れられている）など、将来が期待されていた。