He is considered to be a government official who worked for KI no Marikita, Kokushi of Togoku (eastern province) at least from the early reign of Emperor Kotoku, or presumably Empress Kogyoku, the previous reign.
少なくとも孝徳天皇の代のはじめ、おそらくその前代の皇極天皇の頃から、東国の国司紀麻利きたの部下の官人であった。