Born to a feudal retainer of the Nagaoka domain, he studied in Edo, Bicchu and Nagasaki, and became chief feudal retainer in 1867. In January 1868, he advocated neutrality after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi, but returned to Nagaoka via Edo and joined the Ou-etsu Reppan Domei (Ou-etsu domain alliance). On May 19, Nagaoka Castle fell, but he recaptured it. However, it fell again, and he died from his injuries.