As Yoshimasa lacked dynamism to lead shugo daimyos and immersed himself solely in tea ceremony, gardening and sarugaku plays, the actual steering of the Bakufu was in the hands of strongmen including Katsumoto of the deputy family, Sozen of one of Shishoku ke (four families appointed to deputy directorship of the Board of Retainers) and Yoshimasa's legitimate wife Tomiko HINO.
義政は、守護大名を統率する覇気に乏しく、もっぱら茶・作庭・猿楽などに没頭し、幕政は実力者の管領家の勝元・四職家の宗全、正室の日野富子らに左右されていた。