His father Nobunaga was offered the reign over the family of the Shiba, who acted as guards of Owari, by Yoshiaki ASHIKAGA, and it is said, however, that he declined and made his son Nobutada successor to the Shiba family.
父信長が足利義昭より尾張守護の斯波家の家督を与えられたおり、自らは辞し息子信忠に斯波家を継承させたともいわれる。