In 714, genpuku (a ceremony held to celebrate one's coming of age) was held for Prince Obito, and he was invested as crown prince, but due to his poor health and a conflict between pro-imperial forces and the Fujiwara clan, who were maternally related to the Imperial family, his enthronement was postponed and the Empress Gensho, younger sister of the Emperor Monmu, succeeded to the Imperial Throne as "an interim empress for the interim emperor".
和銅7年（714年）には首皇子の元服が行われて正式に立太子されるも病弱であったことと皇親勢力と外戚である藤原氏との対立もあり、即位は先延ばしにされ文武天皇の妹である元正天皇が「中継ぎの中継ぎ」として皇位を継ぐことになった。