Even though Tokiie was a member to the Taira family, he found favor with Yoritomo because he was skilled in kemari (a game played by aristocrats in the Heian period), Kangen (gagaku piece without dance) and court manners, and since Tokiie himself also held a grudge because of the earlier incident, he decided to faithfully serve Yoritomo, who should have been his enemy.
平家一門とはいえ蹴鞠や管弦、礼儀にも通じていたことから、頼朝から気に入られ、また時家自身も先の一件から一族に恨みを抱いていたため、本来であれば敵である頼朝に忠節を尽くすことになった。