Son of a samurai of the Hirose clan. After having worked as a printer and a newspaper journalist among other jobs, he entered the world of business by the recommendation of Keijiro Amemiya. The reconstruction of Saitama Dento (Saitama Electric Lamp) prompted him to found electric lamp companies in various parts of the country such as Choshi, Ishinomaki, Iwaki, Tsuchiura and Zushi and he was fully engaged in electricity business. He participated in the creation of Nihon Dento (Japan Electric Lamp) and served as an executive director in 1912. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1920 (elected in total eight times). He took part in the formation of the Rikken Minsei-to (Constitutional Democratic Party) and served as the first secretary-general in 1927. He also served as the Minister of Commerce and Industry in the second Wakatsuki Cabinet, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in the Hiranuma Cabinet and the Minister of Finance in the Yonai Cabinet. He was appointed a Councillor in the Cabinet and privy councillor in 1945, and was purged from public office in 1946.