Yoshitane's father was Yoshimi ASHIKAGA, a younger brother of Yoshimasa ASHIKAGA (the eighth Shogun), who was also once an adopted heir of Yoshimasa, and his mother was Shigemasa HINO's daughter (Tomiko HINO's younger sister).
父は第8代将軍・足利義政の弟で一時は義政の養嗣子となっていた足利義視、母は日野重政の娘（日野富子の妹にあたる）。