There is a record that he was reprimanded because of his aides, YAMASHINA brothers, in 1406, and when Emperor Gokomatsu visited "Kitayama-dai villa" right before Yoshimitsu's death, his half brother Yoshitsugu, having his father's favor, had an audience with the Emperor, but Yoshimochi was made in charge of security in Kyoto, which shows that he also suffered from his father's favoritism.
1406年（応永13）には側近の山科兄弟の事で叱責された記録が残っており、1408年（応永15）、義満死去直前に後小松天皇が「北山第」に御成した際も、義満が寵愛した異母弟の義嗣は天皇に謁見したが、義持自身は京都警備番をさせられる等、偏愛にも苦しんでいたようである。