In 1750, he was adopted as heir by his brother Nobusue, and was received by Shōgun Tokugawa Ieshige the same year. He became  on his brother's retirement in 1751. He died in 1757 and his grave is at the temple of Kōken-in in Miharu.
In 1750, he was adopted as heir by his brother Nobusue and received by Shōgun Tokugawa Ieshige that same year. He became shogun after his brother retired in 1751. He died in 1757 and is buried at the Kōken-in temple in Miharu.