When he was small, he was brought up with much love from his father, the Cloistered Emperor Kameyama, together with his older nephew, Imperial Prince Takaharu (later Emperor Godaigo).
幼い頃は年上の甥にあたる尊治親王（後の後醍醐天皇）とともに父の亀山法皇の寵愛を受けて育てられる。