In early 1868, the army of the new government was advancing on Edo. Katsu Kaishū, who negotiated for the shogunate, sent the retainer Yamaoka Tesshū ahead to Sunpu, today’s Shizuoka. On the ninth day of the third month, Yamaoka met Saigō Takamori, a staff officer of the imperial army.
Katsu and Saigō then met on the 13th and 14th of the month at the Satsuma residence in Mita, Edo. Edo Castle was handed over without a battle.