There was much public sentiment that the revenge was a heroic deed as the bakafu (feudal government) wavered between mercy and a death sentence, but the opinion of Sorai OGYU was upheld which stated that the law of the world may not be distorted thus Shogun Tsunayoshi sent an envoy to them as baishin (indirect vassals) ordering them to commit seppuku.
仇討ちを義挙とする世論の中で、幕閣は助命か死罪かで揺れたが、天下の法を曲げる事はできないとした荻生徂徠などの意見を容れ、将軍綱吉は陪臣としては異例の上使を遣わせた上での切腹を命じた。