Later he returned to secular life with the goal of restoring the Kaiho family; however, being acknowledged by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI for his artistic talent, he left samurai life and dedicated his life to artwork.
のち還俗し、海北家の再興をめざしたが、豊臣秀吉に画才を認められたことから武門を去り、晩年は画業に専念した。