Military officer. Born in Iwate, a son of the Nanbu Clan samurai Hidetoshi Tojo. He entered the army Kyododan (school for noncommissioned officers). In 1877, he served in the Satsuma Rebellion and became an second lieutenant. When the Army War College was opened, he was selected to enter it and studied under Klemens W.J. Meckel. After graduation, he went to Germany to study. After returning home, he entered the General Staff Office, and also served as an instructor at the War College. During the Sino-Japanese War, he planned many operations as staff officer of the Imperial General Headquarters, and after the war became chief editor of "Nisshin Senshi" (History of the Sino-Japanese War). During the Russo-Japanese War, he went to the front as chief of the 8th Brigade, but became ill. Later, he became chief of the 30th Infantry Brigade. In 1907, after becoming an lieutenant general, he retired. He was the father of Hideki Tojo.