Reflecting on these circumstances, Kosho declared on February 29, 1988 that he would succeed as the 25th Hossu of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, saying that he would inherit the tradition of Buddhism belonging to Hongan-ji Temple which had been made defunct due to changes in the rules of Shinshu sect Otani school.
このような一連の動きを受けて、光紹は、1988年（昭和63年）2月29日、真宗大谷派の規則変更により消滅させられた本願寺の法統を継承するとして、東本願寺第25世法主の継承を宣言。