However, before he was able to rally from that inferior position, he fell ill and after abdicating the throne to the Prince Noriyoshi (later Emperor Go-Murakami) on August 15, 1339, died at Konrin-ji Temple the next day, leaving as his last will the defeat of his imperial enemy and the recapture of Kyoto.
しかし、劣勢を覆すことができないまま病に倒れ、延元4年/暦応2年（1339年）8月15日(旧暦)、吉野へ戻っていた義良親王（後村上天皇）に譲位し、翌日、吉野金輪王寺で朝敵討滅・京都奪回を遺言して死去した。