Toshimichi Okubo was born on August 10, 1830, in Kagoshima, the castle town of Satsuma, a feudal domain in southern Kyushu. He was the eldest son of a lower-ranking samurai family. Ōkubo was the son of a magistrate, Ōkubo Toshio, and his wife, Minayoshi Fuku.
The eldest of five children, he studied at the same local school with Saigō Takamori, who was three years older. He attended the domain's academy.
Toshimichi began his career as a minor official. Because he strongly advocated a policy of internal reform and Westernization within Satsuma, he soon became a confidant of its lord, Nariakira Shimazu. As a central figure in the domain government during the early 1866, Okubo advocated the moderate policy of union between court and shogunate, which stressed the need to share decisions on national policies between the two.
Beginning in 1865, at the time of the shogunate's expedition against the domain of Choshu, Okubo began to work for alliance of his own domain with Choshu. In 1866 he also established close ties with Tomomi Iwakura, a leader of the loyalist faction at the imperial court.
In late 1867, after reaching an agreement with representatives from Choshu, Okubo helped plan the coup d'etat which overthrew the power of the shogun and restored the Meiji emperor to full executive authority. Leader of the Restoration From the time of the restoration until his death, Okubo was a key leader in the new imperial government. He played an important role in maintaining the alliance between Satsuma and Choshu men and helped bring about the centralization of the government through the abolition of the feudal domains and the establishment of a prefectural system.
As the minister of home affairs from 1873 to 1878, Okubo steered the government in the direction it was to pursue over the next decade or so.
To many, Okubo symbolized the ruthlessness and speed with which the new imperial government had moved.
On May 14, 1878, he was assassinated by a disgruntled former samurai from Kaga domain while on his way to the imperial palace. Stern, humorless, and autocratic in temperament, he represented both the best and worst sides of the bureaucratic elite that dominated the formation of modern Japan.
Okubo believed in Christianity though he never had much to do with it. He focused most of his life in politics. But despite everything he lived his life based on the principles of Christianity.
Okubo was a politician who aimed at developing Japan and making it a worthwhile country. In that case he engaged in promoting a policy of rapid, state- sponsored industrialization by importing the western technology as well as establishing of pilot-plant operations. In addition he recruited the bright and skilled men into the government with the intention of promoting quality leadership that will boost the economy of Japan. Okubo`s main concern in his entire political life was Japan development as a country thus becoming a dominant figure in the government in the early 1860s. His motive to enhance the development in the country forced him to bring about the centralization of the government.
Okubo was one of the most industrious man that Japan ever had. He was so zealous about his country and did everything he could to develop his nation including appointing skilled men into the government. He aimed at giving the Japanese quality leadership. He was an influential man and was quick in winning public approval. When he was appointed as a minor official he won the Lords approval thus becoming his confidant. As a matter of fact he was the most powerful man Japan ever had at the time. He was devoted and very loyal to his nation. He never cared how much he had to lose in the name of sparing the name of his nation. At one time he rejected certain policies on ground that they were too rash for a delicate country like Japan. He emphasized that such policy will arouse the wrath of western power towards Japan. His main reason for rejecting the policy was to protect the nobility of Japan citizens. In line with that he respected people and they adored him in return.
Toshimichi married Hayasaki Masako (d. 1878), with whom he had four sons and a daughter. His children from this marriage were Toshikazu, the 1st Marquess Okubo (1859–1945), Makino Nobuaki (1861–1949), Toshitake, later the 2nd Marquess (1865–1943), Ishihara Takeguma (1869–1943), who was adopted by his wife Yaeko's family, and Yoshiko, who married Ijuin Hikokichi. Ōkubo's second son, Makino Nobuaki, and his son-in-law Ijuin Hikokichi served as Foreign Minister.
