Career
In 1868 he left his clan in the turbulent years preceding the Meiji Restoration and engaged in anti-Shogunate activities. In 1867 he went to England with a fund provided by Shojiro Goto of the Tosa Clan (Kochi Prefecture). Returning to Japan the following year, he was appointed an official in charge of reception of foreigners. He saved British Minister Sir Harry Smith Parkes from an attack by antiforeign elements on his way to the Imperial Palace. Was appointed a judge in Kanagawa and then Tokyo Metropolis. In 1872 visited Europe and America again,in 1884 appointed governor of Shiga Prefecture and in 1889 became a member of the Senate. Later he was a member of the House of Peers and governor of Kyoto Prefecture. A calligrapher and composer of Chinese poems, he was well known by his pseudonym of Oshu-Sanjm. Wrote books including a chronicle of his trips abroad.
