He served as the leader of Seichugumi Organization and after the death of Nariakira in 1858, he approached Hisamitsu SHIMADU, father of Tadayoshi SHIMADU (new lord of the domain) with the assistance of Atsushi SAISHO, instead of Saigo who lost his position.
精忠組の領袖として活動し、安政5年（1858年）の斉彬の死後は、失脚した西郷に代わり新藩主・島津忠義の実父・島津久光（久光）に税所篤の助力で接近する。