At around that time, Ryoma started an emigration plan to Ezochi (Hokkaido) to try to save the Sonno joi (revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians) royalists in Kyoto, where the oppression was escalating, but this plan was derailed after the occurrence of Ikedaya incident.
龍馬はこの頃、弾圧が激しさを増していた京の尊攘過激派を救うべく蝦夷地への移住計画を開始するが、池田屋事件によって頓挫した。