However, those who had responded to Emperor Godaigo's call to strike against the shogunate like Masashige KUSUNOKI of Kawachi Province, Emperor Godaigo's own son Imperial Prince Morinaga (also known as Moriyoshi), who had returned to secular life after serving as head abbot of the entire Tendai sect, and Norimura (Enshin) AKAMATSU of Harima Province, who provided Morinaga support, continued to resist the shogunal forces; moreover, shogunal supporters like the gokenin (lower samurai warrior vassals) Yoshisada NITTA of Kozuke Province and Takauji ASHIKAGA of Shimotsuke Province eventually turned against the shogunate and joined the Imperial cause, gathering together a force from all the various provinces sufficient to topple the shogunate.
しかし、後醍醐天皇の討幕運動に呼応した河内国の楠木正成や後醍醐天皇の皇子で天台座主から還俗した護良親王、護良を支援した播磨国の赤松則村（円心）らが幕府軍に抵抗し、さらに幕府側の御家人である上野国の新田義貞や下野国の足利尊氏（高氏）らが幕府から朝廷へ寝返り、諸国の反幕府勢力を集める。