He was favored to become the next Shogun by Masamoto HOSOKAWA, the Kanrei, and Tomiko HINO who banished Yoshitane ASHIKAGA (Yoshitane) in Meio Coup of 1493; he was installed as the 11th Shogun.
明応2年（1493年）の明応の政変で10代将軍足利義稙（義稙）を追放した管領細川政元や日野富子らによって擁立され、11代将軍に就任する。