Ōkuma Shigenobu
Kōno was appointed to the "Genrōin" in 1875, becoming its vice-chairman in 1878. In 1880, he was appointed Education Lord under the initial "Daijō-kan" system of the Meiji government, and became Agriculture and Commerce Lord under the same system in 1881. Politically, he allied himself with Ōkuma Shigenobu, joining his "Rikken Kaishintō" political party as its vice-chairman. In 1888, he was appointed to the Privy Council.