Ashikaga Yoshiakira

Who was Ashikaga Yoshiakira?

Ashikaga Yoshiakira was the 2nd shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1358 to 1367 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshiakira was the son of the founder and first shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji. His mother was and Akahashi Tōshi, also known as and Hōjō Tōshi.

He spent his childhood in Kamakura as a hostage of the Hōjō clan. His father Takauji joined forces with the banished Emperor Go-Daigo. The Kamakura shogunate was overthrown, and Go-Daigo began the process which came to be known as the Kemmu Restoration.

Yoshiakira assisted Nitta Yoshisada in his attack on the Kamakura shogunate.

In 1349, an internal disturbance of the government caused Yoshiakira to be called back to Kyoto, where he found himself named as Takauji's heir. Yoshiakira succeeded his father Takauji as Seii Taishogun after his death in 1358.

Significant events shape the period during which Yoshiakira was shogun:

1358 - Takauji dies; Yoshiakira appointed shogun; dissention and defections in shogunate.

1362 – Hosokawa Kiyouji and Kusunoki Masanori attack Kyoto, Yoshiakira flees, but regains the capital in twenty days.