When Yorinari lost to his older brother Masayori TOKI in a succession struggle, Kankuro (Dosan) secretly plotted a sudden attack against Masayori at Kawate-jo Castle and drove him out to Echizen, which greatly contributed to Yorinari's assignment to shugo.
頼芸が兄土岐政頼との家督相続に敗れると、勘九郎は密かに策を講じ、大永7年8月、政頼を革手城に急襲して越前へ追いやり、頼芸の守護補任に大きく貢献した。