He served four shogun as roju but opposed sobayonin (lord chamberlain) policy within himself and made an effort to back up Yoshimune TOKUGAWA in exchange for a condition to abolish sabayonin at the time of succession quarrel after Ietsugu TOKUGWA.
老中として4人の将軍に仕えたが、側用人制度には内心反対し、ポスト徳川家継の後継争いの際、側用人の廃止を条件とし、徳川吉宗の擁立に尽力する。