He encouraged Western studies, and following the suggestion of Heisuke KUDO, dispatched Tokunai MOGAMI to Ezo to investigate the potential for development of new rice fields or mines and trade with the Russian Empire through the intermediation of the Ainu.
また、蘭学を奨励し、工藤平助らの提案によって最上徳内を蝦夷地に派遣し、新田開発や鉱山開発さらにアイヌを通じた対ロシア帝国交易の可能性を調査させた。