In March 1877, as the Seinan War broke out, he went to Kyoto by himself, preparing to resign from Shiho-taifu (post of Ministry of Justice), and appealed for departure for the front to suppress it.
明治10年（1877年）3月、西南戦争勃発により、司法大輔を辞職する覚悟で単身京都に出張し、鎮圧出征を懇願する。