Kunigami was the eldest son of Kunigami Seikan, and was also a grandson of Kunigami Seiin. He served as Sanshikan during King Shō Gen's reign.

Amami Ōshima revolted and refused to pay tribute in 1571. A troops led by King Shō Gen to suppress them, but the king got sick seriously on the way. Kunigami prayed to heaven and said that he would like to replace the king to die. Magically, the king was full recovery and quickly put down the rebellion, but Kunigami died. The king was moved, and promoted his son, Kunigami Seichi, to the rank of Aji, and established an aristocrat family: Kunigami Udun. This was the only one Aji family which had no royal blood, and Kunigami Seikaku was regarded as the third head of Kunigami Udun posthumously.

马顺德为马诚骥（国头亲方正鉴）的儿子。他的祖父马思良（国头亲方正胤）出任过三司官。马顺德本人在嘉靖年间出任三司官。

1571年，尚元王御驾亲征奄美大岛，归国途中病重。随行出征的马顺德对天祈祷愿代王死，最终尚元王病愈，马顺德却病亡，对此尚元王非常感动。念及马顺德及其父、祖三代都为国尽忠，尚元王破格将其子马似龙（国头按司正致）的位阶提升为只有王族才能拥有的「按司」，马氏国头御殿也成为琉球历史上唯一一个没有王族血统的御殿。