Born in 1239, son of Fujiwara no Yoritsune. When his father was removed from the shogunal post in 1244 at the instigation of Hojo Tsunetoki, the six-year-old Yoritsugu became the 5th shogun—and the last from a regent (sekke) family. Too young to govern, the Hojo acted as his guardians from the start. After Hojo Tokiyori became the 5th shikken in 1246, every aspect of shogunate governance flowed from Tokiyori's will alone. Yoritsugu held no real authority and was treated essentially as a ceremonial figurehead. In 1252, with his father already exiled in connection with the Miya Disturbance, Yoritsugu himself was suspected of ties to anti-Hojo factions and deposed. He was sent back to Kyoto, where he died in 1256 at just 17. No records show him exercising any real governance—a tragic boy shogun used as a puppet by the Hojo, just as his father had been.

A tragic young shogun who assumed office as a child and was deposed without ever holding real power.

The last sekke shogun. Thereafter, Kamakura shoguns were drawn from the imperial family.