At the Tenmei Famine, the Emperor demanded that the government rescue people, and in regard to the conflict between Japan and Russia in the north, he made the government report the situation to him, whereupon he tried to restore the authority of the Imperial Palace.
天明の大飢饉の際には幕府に領民救済を申し入れて、北方での日露紛争の際には、交渉の経過を報告させるなど、朝廷権威の復権に務める。