Diplomat. Born in Fukuoka as the son of an ashigaru (a samurai of the lowest rank) for the Kuroda Clan. In 1892, he graduated from the Law College of the Imperial University. He then entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as resident staff in Pusan, Shanghai, Incheon, London, and Korea. In 1901, he became the director of the Political Affairs Bureau. Under the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jutaro Komura, he was involved in forging the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, negotiations with Russia, and diplomacy concerning the war against Russia. He also attended the Portsmouth Peace Conference as one of the staff in attendance, thus playing a central role in the Komura Diplomacy. In 1908, he became councillor of the Japanese embassy in Great Britain. In 1913, as minister to China, he went to China after the Chinese Revolution of 1911, but died the following year in Beijing.