Against a shogunal plan of claiming imperial sanction to the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan that was to be signed in 1858, Takanaka participated in a sit-in protest staged by 88 courtiers (which is called the 'Teishin hachijuhachi kyo ressan jiken' incident in Japanese.)
安政5年（1858年）の日米修好通商条約勅許を求める幕府案に反対し、廷臣88人の列参に加わる（廷臣八十八卿列参事件）。