Born to the Yasuda family, a feudal retainer of the Yamaguchi domain, he was adopted by YAMAGATA Taika, the head of Meirinkan. He pushed for the Joi Movement (a movement advocating the expulsion of foreigners) of the Choshu domain and was imprisoned, but was pardoned. He became Gon Daisanji (second to the governor) of the Yamaguchi domain in 1869. A member of the Senate in 1877 and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Qing Dynasty in 1879. In 1890, when the Imperial Diet was established, he became a member of the House of Peers.