In the Boshin War, he was recommended for the governor-general of Ou Chinbushi (temporary government post) in February 1868 and joined the war as the vice governor-general after Michitaka KUJO was assigned to the governor-general.
戊辰戦争では、明治元年2月に奥羽鎮撫使総督に挙げられ、ついで九条道孝の総督就任とともに副総督となって出陣した。