Grand Chamberlain of Emperor Meiji. SAIONJI Kinmochi was his younger brother. In 1862, he became a Kokuji Goyokakari (a government official), and in the following year, he was placed on probation due to the political change on August 18, 1863. He was reinstated under amnesty in 1867. After the Meiji Restoration, he became the Sanyo (counselor) and Gijo (official post), served in the Ministry of the Imperial Household and as Grand Chamberlain, and later as the Imperial Household Minister, a member of the House of Peers, and Minister of Home Affairs.