Under Nango and Hirata, Sawakai joined Keigo KIYOURA's Kenkyukai (a study group) in supporting Aritomo YAMAGATA, supporting Yamagata's doctrine of transcendence.
南郷や平田のもとで茶話会は清浦奎吾の研究会_(貴族院)とともに山縣有朋を支持して、超然主義を奉じた。