However, in 1687, Michishige NAKANOIN was expelled for his abusive remark earlier in the year and was suspected of ill intentions toward the Crown Prince (although he was remitted afterwards and his salaries from the Bakufu were increased at the recommendation of the Retired Emperor Reigen and Emperor Higashiyama), and immediately after that the incumbent emperor declared the abdication of his throne in favor or Imperial Prince Asahito (now Emperor Higashiyama) and the start of his assumption of the virtual reins of the court as retired emperor.
だが、貞享4年（1687年）中院通茂が先年の暴言の事実と皇太子への悪意の疑いで追放され（ただし、後年許されて霊元上皇と東山天皇の推挙で幕府から加増を受けている）、直後に朝仁親王（東山天皇）への譲位と院政開始を宣言する。