He was in a party advocating a theory of 'Kobu Gattai' (union of the imperial court and the shogunate), thus standing in opposition to the Kuge (court nobles) of the Sonjo-ha party (supporting the principle of 'Sonno Joi' advocating reverence for the Emperor and the expulsion of foreigners).
公武合体派で、尊攘派の公家と対立した。