Government official, statesman. Born in Yamaguchi as the son of a samurai of the Hagi Clan. In 1857, he entered a private school, Shoka Sonjuku. He joined the sonno joi undo (movement to revere the emperor and expel the barbarians) and was implicated in the incident of burning down the British legation. He was active in the resistance to the second Choshu Expedition. In 1871, he started to work for the new government as Kunai Gon-daijo(officer of the Imperial Household Ministry). He participated in Iwakura Mission to Europe and the United States. From then on, he was continuously promoted and successively held posts as governor of Kanagawa, superintendent of transport and communications, and Vice-Minister of Communications . In 1887, he became a shishaku (viscount) and in the following year a privy councillor. In 1891, he was sent to France as the resident envoy. After returning home, he became Minister of Home Affairs in the second Ito cabinet and Minister of Communications in the second Matsukata cabinet.