Government official, statesman. Born in Yamaguchi. His adopted father was a samurai of the Hagi Clan. He served in the Boshin War. After studying in France, he served in the Ministry of War. Later, after serving as director of the Cabinet Gazette Bureau, secretary of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and other posts, in 1890 he became the first chief secretary of the House of Representatives. In 1892, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the second general election and served as vice-chairmanr of the House in the same year. In 1893, he became minister to France and engaged in the negotiation for the treaty revision. Next, he served successively posts as Minister of Justice in the third Ito cabinet, Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in the second Yamagata cabinet, Minister of Finance in the first Katsura cabinet and other posts. During the Russo-Japanese War, he made efforts to finance the expenses of the war. In 1900, he was selected as an Imperial nominee to the House of Peers. He became a privy councillor in 1906, the vice-resident-general of Korea in 1907 and the Resident General in 1909.