When Mitsushige died at the age of 69 on June 15, 1696, 42-year-old Jocho asked for a permission to the authority to let him enter into priesthood, because he had devoted all his life to Mitsushige during more than 30 years with the spirit to 'take charge of all the family affaires of his master by himself,' but he was not allowed to follow his master to the grave due to the oibara (following one's master into death by committing ritual suicide [seppuku]), and in May 19, he received the religious precept from the highest priest of Koden-ji Temple, Ryoi Osho and took the tonsure.
同年5月16日、光茂が69歳の生涯を閉じるや、42歳のこの年まで30年以上「お家を我一人で荷なう」の心意気で側近として仕えた常朝は、追腹禁止により殉死もならず、願い出て出家、5月19日、高伝寺了意和尚より受戒、剃髮。