He was captured when the Taira clan was defeated in Dannoura, but his life was spared because of his links to the Minamoto clan and also as a reward for his son, Munesue's military exploits for the Minamoto clan.
平家が壇ノ浦で敗れ滅亡すると囚われるが、源氏の一族であったこと、一子飯富宗季が源氏方として軍功があったことから助命されている。