In 1863, he went to Kyoto as Iemochi TOKUGAWA's harbinger, and he endeavored to negotiate with the members of the Imperial Court who urged the execution of Joi (expulsion of foreigners from Japan).
文久3年（1863年）には将軍・徳川家茂の先駆けとして上洛、攘夷を迫る朝廷との交渉に手を尽くした。