he was reduced in rank after vehemently denying the presence of a son (in fear of his formal wife) when questioned about who will continue the family name, resulting in his illegitimate child, Akitomo KATO, receiving the 20,000 koku Minakuchi Domain in Omi no Kuni and continuing the surname.
嗣子を立てて家名存続との裁定となるが、明成が正室をはばかって子息はないと頑固に主張したため改易され、庶子の加藤明友に近江国水口藩2万石に減移封されることで名跡が保たれた。