In foreign policy, he revised the decree issued in Ogosho period which ordered expelling foreign vessels, newly issued the decree that permitted providing foreign vessels with fuel and water in order to avoid an unnecessary war, and tried to build national defense by having Egawa and Shuhan TAKASHIMA introduce Western artillery.
また対外政策では、大御所時代に出された異国船打払令を改め、無用の戦を避けるため薪水給与令が出され、江川や高島秋帆による西洋砲術導入による国防策も図られた。