Although the conference due to be held in Shimonoseki was cancelled by Saigo just before its start, the six-article alliance for defeating the shogunate was concluded on March 7 (some say on March 8) with the mediation of Sakamoto at Kiyotada KOMATSU's residence in Kyoto (in the present Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City) between the Satsuma representatives (Takamori SAIGO, Toshimichi OKUBO and Kiyotada KOMOTSU [the clan's chief retainer]) and the Choshu counterpart Takayoshi KIDO (called Kogoro KATSURA at that time).
下関での会談を西郷が直前に拒否する事態もあったが、1月21日（22日説も）京都小松清廉邸（京都市上京区）で坂本を介して西郷隆盛、大久保利通、薩摩藩家老の小松清廉と長州藩の木戸孝允（当時は桂小五郎）が倒幕運動に協力する6か条の同盟を締結した。