In the winter of 1180, when Yoshimoto and the greater part of the Ishikawa-Genji (Minamoto clan) strength were destroyed by TAIRA no Kiyomori's assault at Toba (today's Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City), Yoshikane was at their clan stronghold of Ishikawa-jo Castle (present-day Kanan-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture).
治承四年（1180年）冬、平清盛の攻撃により義基ら石川源氏の主力が鳥羽（京都市伏見区）で壊滅した際、義兼は本拠地の石川城（大阪府南河内郡河南町）にあった。