After the Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan, the following of Sonno Joi greatly extended their influence, accordingly the Emperor and the Imperial Court rapidly gathered momentum, and the political center moved from Edo to a distant city, Kyoto (the Imperial Court and its vicinity).
黒船来航・開国以来、尊皇攘夷が高まりを見せ、天皇・朝廷が急速に政治的求心力を備えてくると、幕府の所在する江戸から離れた京都が政治動向の中心となった。