Their employer was a branch of the Hosokawa clan that served as Awa Shugo, but when Sumimoto HOSOKAWA was adopted by the head of the clan, Masamoto HOSOKAWA, they went into lands under imperial rule, to support the longstanding desire of Sumimoto HOSOKAWA to be head of the Hosokawa family and the Shogunate's Kanrei, and supported that by establishing battle positions.
主家は阿波守護を務める細川氏の一門であったが、主家の細川澄元が細川宗家の細川政元の養子となるのに伴い、畿内一帯に進出、主君の細川澄元の細川宗家及び幕府管領職相続の宿願を適えるため、戦陣での働きにより、これを支えてきた。