Because Emperor Shoko was weak and often in serious condition, he did not have any children to succeed as prince; moreover, Gokomatsu's second son Ogawanomiya died young, so there was the issue of who would succeed to the throne; however, after Retired Emperor Gokomatsu had a meeting with the fourth Shogun Yoshimochi ASHIKAGA, Imperial Prince Fushiminomiya Sadafusa of Suko Ryu (a descendant of Emperor Suko) was appointed as a successor once he received the title of a Imperial Prince by the imperial order and became Gokomatsu's adopted child.
称光天皇は病弱でたびたび重態に陥り、皇子の誕生もなく、また後小松の次男小川宮も早世したため後継者問題が生じ、後小松上皇は4代将軍足利義持と協議、後継者として崇光流の伏見宮貞成親王が有力視され、一時は後小松の猶子として親王宣下された。