He was born at Hita in Bungo, a son of Naito Kichibei, a minor official at the intendant's office. His father later went to Edo and gained the status of a shogunal retainer. The family was poor, but his father is said to have been devoted to his son's learning.
He was adopted by the Kawaji, a minor shogunal family, and took their name. From boyhood he worked hard at learning and arms, seeking to make his own way from a humble house. He later began work in a shogunal office.
He began work as a junior clerk in the kanjosho, the shogunate's finance office. His diligence and sharp mind won gradual recognition, and he climbed the ladder. The finance office was one where ability counted more than lineage.
He handled the investigation of a succession feud in Izushi domain in Tajima, the Sengoku Disturbance, and won fame for fair judgment. This led to his promotion to finance inspector, and he became known as a capable official within the shogunate.
He associated with Watanabe Kazan, Egawa Hidetatsu and others who studied Western affairs. That year, in the Bansha no goku, Kazan and others were punished for criticizing the shogunate's foreign policy; Kawaji came under suspicion but was not charged.
He was appointed magistrate of Sado Island, home of the Sado gold mine. He is said to have served conscientiously, caring for mine management and the islanders' lives. His provincial experience served his later work for the shogunate.
As magistrate of Nara he governed the old capital and attended to surveying and repairing neglected imperial tombs. He later also served as Osaka city magistrate. Listening to the people wherever he went, he was reputed a fair and compassionate official.
He was named kanjo bugyo, magistrate in charge of shogunal finance and the shogun's lands nationwide. When Perry came the next year, he worked on coastal defense under senior councilor Abe Masahiro. He had risen from a humble house to a weighty shogunal post.
When the Russian envoy Putyatin arrived at Nagasaki, Kawaji negotiated as one of the plenipotentiaries. The talks on borders and opening ports were difficult, but his sincere and witty manner is said to have won Putyatin's high regard.
Continuing talks with Putyatin at Shimoda in Izu, he concluded the Russo-Japanese Treaty of Amity. In the Kurils the border was set between Etorofu and Uruppu, while Sakhalin was left without a border as land where both peoples lived. He also helped aid the Russians, who had lost their ship to an earthquake and tsunami.
For backing Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu in the shogunal succession dispute, he was dismissed as finance magistrate by Great Elder Ii Naosuke and moved to a sinecure. The next year he was further ordered into retirement and confinement. Many able officials were sidelined at this time.
He briefly returned as foreign magistrate but was later disabled by illness. As the new government army neared Edo, just before Edo Castle was handed over, Kawaji took his own life, as if following the shogunate. His end seemed to witness the close of the shogunate.
Watanabe KazanMatthew C. PerryIi NaosukeAbe MasahiroEgawa Hidetatsu
Takashima ShūhanUdagawa YōanTokugawa NariakiEgawa HidetatsuTakano ChōeiTownsend HarrisFujita TokoShimazu Nariakira
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.