Statesman. Born in Kagoshima, the son of a coutry samurai of the Kagoshima Clan. In 1871, he went to Tokyo to study but when the clans were replaced by prefectures, he joined the Metropolitan Police Department. In 1874, he returned home and faught in the Satsuma Rebellion, in which he was taken captive. In 1880, he was released under a special amnesty. In 1890, in the first general election, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives from the Kagoshima 3rd electoral district. He continued to be returned consecutively until 1912, and played an influential part in party politics. He served as chairman of the House of Representatives from the 25th Diet session until the 27th session (1908-1911). In 1911, he became Minister of Education in the second Saionji cabinet, but resigned through illness the next year. In 1914, he again became chairman and managed sessions during the turmoil of the Siemens Scandal, but he died in office from a heart attack.