The Hitotsubashi-party executed political maneuvers such as sending into Ooku Nariakira SHIMAZU's adopted daughter, Tenshoin, as Shogun's wife (Midaidokoro), but after the death of Masahiro ABE and Nariakira SHIMAZU, its power weakened; Naosuke II who became Tairo in 1858 settled on "Shogun's heir as Yoshitomi TOKUGAWA" through arbitration.
一橋派は島津斉彬の養女・天璋院を将軍・御台所として大奥に送り込むなどの擁立工作を行なうが、阿部正弘、島津斉彬が相次いで亡くなると勢いを失い、安政5年（1858年）に大老となった井伊直弼が裁定し、「将軍継嗣は徳川慶福」と決した。