The Urabe family had been in charge of bokusen (augury) since ancient times and many of the familiy members had served as officers of Jingikan (department of worship); Kenko's father was also a Shinto priest of Yoshida-jinja Shrine.
卜部氏は古代より卜占を司り、神祇官を出す神職の家で、兼好の父も吉田神社の神職であった。