Meanwhile, there was a dispute between Imperial Prince Kuninomiya Asahiko and Yodo YAMAUCHI over the imperial envoy to demand expulsion of foreigners, and when there was a confrontation between HONMA, who went forward with Imperial Prince Kuninomiya Asahiko, and the Kinnoto, who supported YAMAUCHI, HONMA cast doubt that he was communicating secretly with the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
そこへ久邇宮朝彦親王と山内容堂との間で、攘夷督促勅使を巡る争いが持ち上がり、前者を推進する本間と後者を推す勤王党の間で対立が起きたとも、本間が幕府と通じているのではないかと疑われたとも言われる。