Stories of the Japanese 01275 [Muromachi/Yoshimitsu Period] The Appearance of Ashikaga Yoshitsugu

Generally, it is said that the 4th Shogun, Yoshimochi, had a poor relationship with his father, Yoshimitsu. As will be described later, in his later years, Yoshimitsu doted only on Yoshimochi's younger brother, Yoshitsugu, and was cold toward Yoshimochi.
On March 28, 1406 (the 13th year of Oei), an incident occurred that may have been the cause of the conflict between father and son, Yoshimitsu and Yoshimochi. Yoshimochi lost his temper for some reason at his close aide, Norifuyu Yamashina (?-1409), and when Yoshimitsu heard about it, he severely reprimanded Yoshimochi. The severity of the reprimand was such that Yoshimochi, fearing punishment, fled to the residence of Shigemitsu Uramatsu.
Intercession was made by Shigemitsu Uramatsu to Yoshimitsu, and in the end, it was settled by taking the form of
'Yoshimochi pardoning and granting an audience to Norifuyu.'
This is the first record indicating the deterioration of the relationship between father and son, Yoshimitsu and Yoshimochi.
However, I do not think Yoshimitsu was even considering disinheriting Yoshimochi and stripping him of his shogunal position. This is because when Yoshimochi's ceremony for his appointment as Udaijin (Minister of the Right) was held on July 19, 1407 (the 14th year of Oei), he was accompanied by 47 court nobles as vanguards and 23 court nobles as attendants, which exceeded the number during Yoshimitsu's own appointment ceremony (37 court nobles as vanguards and 21 court nobles as attendants). Of course, this number was likely due to Yoshimitsu's intentions.
Dark clouds began to gather over Yoshimochi's future after the appearance of his younger brother, Yoshitsugu, who was eight years his junior.
When Yoshimochi succeeded to the shogunal position, his younger brothers were all expected to enter the priesthood to prevent succession disputes, and they were entrusted to temples. Yoshitsugu was also sent to the Kajii Monzeki temple during his childhood and was named 'Tsuruwakamaru'.
Around February 1408 (the 15th year of Oei), Tsuruwakamaru was taken to the Kajii Monzeki and had an audience with Yoshimitsu. Although they were father and son, it is thought that this was almost their first meeting. Yoshimitsu was captivated by the 14-year-old child he met for the first time, liked him very much, and suddenly decided to take him back from the Kajii Monzeki and raise him himself.
On February 27, Yoshimitsu took Yoshitsugu to the Imperial Palace and ascended to the Seiryoden.
As is well known, it was decided that only those of the 'Third Rank or higher or Sangi or higher' could ascend to the palace, and imperial permission was required to allow others to do so. However, Yoshimitsu forcibly had Tsuruwakamaru, who had not yet undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, ascend to the palace, and on that same day, he granted him the court rank of Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, and the personal name 'Yoshitsugu.' Incidentally, ascending to the Seiryoden in the appearance of a child before the coming-of-age ceremony is called 'warawa-denjo' and was only permitted for some court nobles such as the Sekkan families.
Why Yoshimitsu took Tsuruwakamaru in, how he intended to raise him, and how he thought to set the division of roles with Yoshimochi remain unclear even now, but in any case, from this time on, Yoshimitsu's favoritism toward Yoshitsugu, which could be called abnormal, began. The speed of his promotion easily surpassed that of Taira no Kiyomori and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and even exceeded that of Minamoto no Sanetomo, which was talked about for being too fast.