Career
He was also the 28th hereditary head of the Matsura clan. Takanobu was the eldest son of Matsura Hisanobu, 2nd daimyo of the domain. The domain was heavily dependent on income from foreign trade, and Takanobu cultivated good relations with the Dutch merchants who were seeking access to ports in Japan.
He was appointed the designated broker between the Dutch and the bakufu, and was their most consistent ally in Japan.