Career
Succeeded to family headship in 1868, amidst the turmoil of the Boshin War. His domain was involved in the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle. After a brief period in the 1870s when he studied in the United States, Masunori returned to Japan, and was made a viscount (shishaku 子爵).
He was a recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasures.