After serving as the governor of Okinawa Prefecture for two years, Michitoshi became Shiho-taifu (active minister of the Ministry of Justice) and persuaded the national government about importance of developing Hokkaido and establishing the Hokkaido Agency (1886-1947).
2年の沖縄県令の後司法大輔となり、北海道開拓の重要性を政府に説き、北海道庁(1886-1947)設置を働き掛ける。