Kiyomori became Dajo-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm) in March, 1167, but since the time when FUJIWARA no Nobunaga was appointed to Dajo-daijin after losing to FUJIWARA no Morozane in the competition for the sekkan post during the reign of Emperor Shirakawa, the Dajo-daijin post was only an honorary post with no actual power, and Kiyomori therefore resigned from this post only 3 months after his appointment.
翌仁安(日本)2年（1167年）2月に太政大臣になるが、太政大臣は白河天皇の治世に藤原師実と摂関を争って敗れた藤原信長が就任してからは実権のない名誉職に過ぎず、わずか3ヶ月で辞任する。