However, immediately after Tsunayoshi assumed the position of shogun, his sobayonin (lord chamberlain), Yoshiyasu YANAGISAWA gripped the real power over the bakufu, making use of adverse situations including the incidence in which Wakadoshiyori (junior councilor) Masayasu INAGA was stabbed to death inside the palace.
綱吉が将軍に就任したすぐの時期に、若年寄の稲葉正休が殿中で刺殺されたこともあり、側用人の柳沢吉保が実権を掌握した。