During this period, a plan to return land and people to the emperor was set by a petition from major clans Satsuma, Chofu, Tosa and Hizen, and was actually carried out in September, by returning land (called hanto) and people (family register) to the government, transforming the lord of domain (daimyo [Japanese feudal lord]) to chihanjis (modern-day governors), and separating vassals from each clan.
その間、薩摩・長州・土佐・肥前藩の建白により版籍奉還が企図され、同年9月諸藩の藩主（大名）は領地（版図）および人民（戸籍）を政府へ返還、大名は知藩事となり、家臣とも分離された。