He was appointed to be a Japanese envoy to China during the Tang Dynasty in 834, but due to a disagreement with FUJIWARA no Tsunetsugu, the senior envoy, he turned down the appointment, claiming to be ill; moreover he incurred the anger of Retired Emperor Saga by writing a poem criticizing the government, which resulted in him being sent to Oki Island.
承和(日本)元年（834年）、遣唐使に任ぜられるが、承和5年（838年）に正使藤原常嗣とのいさかいから、病気と称して職務を拒否したうえ朝廷を批判する詩を作したため、嵯峨上皇の怒りをかい隠岐に流された。