In 1482, his older brother Hiromori SUE, unexpectedly died at the young age of 28, and as his children were still young, Hiroaki returned to the original family name of Sue and used the name of Sue Hyogo no kami (Sue, the head of the armory).
文明14年（1482年）、兄の陶弘護が28歳の若さで不慮の死を遂げ、その子達が幼なかったため、大内政弘の命により本姓の陶氏に戻り陶兵庫頭を名乗る。