Feudal retainer of the Aizu domain. In 1866, he accompanied the Japan-Russian border demarcation negotiation envoy to Russia. He joined the Boshin War and was besieged at Aizu-wakamatsu Castle. In 1869, he became Gondaisanji (second to the governor) of Tonami Domain (Aomori Prefecture), and joined the army after the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures. He participated in the Seinan War and became a major general in 1886, a member of the House of Peers in 1890, and a baron in 1898. He is the older brother of YAMAKAWA Kenjiro and OYAMA Sutematsu.