While he acted as retired Emperor, during the Kanno Disturbance when the ASHIKAGA clan's internal struggle was raging in 1352, he and retired Emperor Kogon were captured by the Southern Court as Emperor Gomurakami's army chased Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA in Kyoto and recaptured the city.
上皇にあった後は、1352年に足利氏の内紛である観応の擾乱に乗じて後村上天皇の軍が京都の足利義詮を追い都を奪回した際に、光厳上皇と共々南朝に捕らえらる。