Yoshimitsu, from his younger days, was accustomed to using wither of two stylized signatures according to the situation, one for samurai affairs and the other for aristocratic affairs. He also made his second wife, Yasuko, become the Emperor Go-Komatsu's junbo (mother next to the Empress, treated as his mother), then made her a Nyoin (wife of a former Emperor or princess who received the same treatment as Emperors). He also forced the nobles to offer their wives to him.
義満は早くから花押を武家用と公家用に使い分けたり、2番目の妻である康子を後小松天皇の准母（天皇の母扱い）ついで女院にしたり、公家衆の妻を自分に差し出させたりしていた。