The last daimyo of the Saga domain. Took over the domain in 1861. After the haihan chiken (abolition of clans and inauguration of the prefectural system) in 1871, he went to England to study, returning to Japan in 1878. He was appointed as plenipotentiary to Italy in 1880. After the Diet was established, he became a member of the House of Peers, and was later appointed as an imperial councilor. Marquis. He wrote the lyrics to “Miyako no Haru”, a commemorative song for the opening of the Tokyo Music School (later the Tokyo University of the Arts).