In the following year, 1941, he assumed the position of the 70th chief abbot of the Grand Head Temple Eihei-ji Temple which was the top of the Soto Sect, but he announced his resignation soon after the ceremony of entering the temple and devoted himself to research after this.
翌昭和16年（1941年）には、曹洞宗の頂点である大本山永平寺第70世貫首となったが、入山式の直後に引退を表明、以後は自分の研究に打ち込んだ。