Later in the 1350s, a civil war occurred between the founder of the shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji and his son, Tadafuyu.

When it ended, Kaneyoshi became an effective force of the Southern Court in opposition to the Ashikaga bakufu.

[1]: 97 In 1336, Go-Daigo sent the prince, at seven years of age, to Kyushu as Chinzei Shogun (Commander-in-Chief of the Western Defense Area).

[1]: 106 By 1365, Kaneyoshi gained control of the entire island of Kyushu, at this point he was so confident that he believed he could even march an army to Kyoto, capital of the bakufu.

[1]: 109 When Yoshiakira died, loyalist resistance weakened,[1]: n27  and control was fully consolidated under the Ashikaga.