Furthermore, Emperor Gokomatsu only had one male child, Emperor Shoko, (Emperor Shoko's Crown Prince, Emperor Gokomatsu's second Prince died young, and in fact, Sojun IKKYU the famous monk was Emperor Gokomatsu's Prince, he had to enter into the priesthood at a young age for political reasons, he did not have any right to succeed to the throne.) Emperor Shoko did not have any children and he was born weak, and he was not expected to live long.
更に後小松には称光しか男子がおらず（称光の皇太子であった後小松の第2皇子は早世、実はこの他に名僧として知られた一休宗純も後小松の皇子であったが、政治的事情により早くから出家させられて皇位継承権を失っていた）、更に称光には子供がいない上に虚弱体質であったためにいつ崩御されてもおかしくない状態となっていた。