At the battle of Hakone-Takenoshita, Takauji ASHIKAGA, who was defecting from the Kemmu Restoration by Emperor Godaigo, defeated Yoshisada NITTA who had been ordered to crush Takauji by the Kemmu government; then, Takauji chased Nitta's forces trying to capture Kyoto, but in 1336, he was defeated in and around Kyoto by the Imperial forces which had contact with Masashige KUSUNOKI and Akiie KITABATAKE; he escaped to the west, towards Kyushu, by ship to renew his forces, helped by Norimura AKAMATU (Enshin) of Harima Province on the way.
後醍醐天皇の建武の新政から離反した足利尊氏は、建武政権から尊氏追討を命じられた新田義貞を箱根・竹ノ下の戦いで破り、さらに新田軍を追撃して京都の確保を図るが、1336年、楠木正成や北畠顕家らと連絡した宮方勢に京都とその近辺で敗れ海路西走し、途中播磨国の赤松則村（円心）らに助けられ、再興を賭けて九州地方に下る。