It seems that he was greatly trusted by Yoritomo, because he and Kagetoki KAJIWARA were dispatched as bugyo (magistrate) under the commands of Yoritomo's representatives, Noriyori and Yoshitsune, on an expedition.
梶原景時と共に頼朝代官である範頼・義経の奉行として遠征軍に派遣されており、頼朝の信任が厚かったと思われる。