He alienated Zeami, whom Yoshimitsu took under his wing (however, this is also said to be a matter of Yoshimochi's personal interest), declined the posthumous title as ex-Emperor offered to his father Yoshimitsu, from the Imperial court, and ended the trade with Ming dynasty China (Kango trade), of which tribute style had faced some opposition, in 1411.
義満が庇護していた世阿弥を遠ざけ（ただし、これは義持個人の趣味の問題とする説もある）、朝廷からの父義満に対する太上天皇の追号を辞退し、1411年（応永18）には朝貢形式に対して反発の声もあった日明貿易（勘合貿易）を取り止めるなどした。