When the oldest brother and FUJIWARA no Koretada, who was a sessho, died young during the reign of Emperor Enyu, Kaneie wished to be the next kanpaku, but his second oldest brother, Kanemichi, took that post.
円融天皇のとき長兄の摂政藤原伊尹が早世すると、次の関白を望んだが、次兄の兼通に奪われてしまった。