After Emperor Go-Enyu, who opposed Yoshimitsu and abdicated to Emperor Go-Komatsu, died in 1393, Yoshimitsu established his power, and in 1394, he handed over the post of Shogun to his son, Yoshimochi ASHIKAGA, and retired, but he continued to hold the real power.
義満と対立して後小松天皇に譲位していた後円融天皇が1393年（明徳4年）に死去し、自己の権力を確固たるものにした義満は1394年（応永元年）には将軍職を嫡男の足利義持に譲って隠居したが、政治上の実権は握り続けた。