Born into a low-ranking samurai family of the Saga domain in Hizen.
Around this time he wrote a memorial arguing that Japan should open up and trade.
He left the domain to work in Kyoto but was brought back and confined.
Joining the new government, he proposed making Edo the capital as Tokyo.
As the first Minister of Justice he built a modern judicial system, setting up courts and more.
In the dispute over Korea he left the government with Saigō Takamori and others.
Urged by discontented former samurai in Saga, he rose in revolt but was defeated (the Saga Rebellion) and lost his life by execution.
Saigō TakamoriNabeshima Naomasa (Kansō)Soejima TaneomiYuri KimimasaKodama Gentarō
Nakamura MasanaoTerashima MunenoriKido TakayoshiŌtori KeisukeFukuzawa YukichiIwasaki YatarōMaejima HisokaMatsukata Masayoshi
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.