Succeeding to Yoshitake SHIMA who was chief magistrate of the Hokkaido Development Commission (alternatively, Hokkaido Colonization Commission), Michitoshi took office in 1871, and continued development of Sapporo City.
開拓使首席判官島義勇の後を受け、明治4年（1871年）、開拓使判官として札幌市の開発継続に着手する。