 Itagaki was appointed a Councilor of State in 1869, and was involved in several key reforms, such as the abolition of the han system in 1871.As a "sangi" (councillor), he ran the government temporarily during the absence of the Iwakura Mission.However, Itagaki resigned from the Meiji government in 1873 over disagreement with the government's policy of restraint toward Korea "(Seikanron)" and, more generally, in opposition to the Chōshū-Satsuma domination of the new government.