In 1869, he succeeded as head of the family due to the death of his adoptive father, but the Shogun family had already disappeared and he took pains to maintain the family business during the decline of the tea ceremony.
明治2年、養父の死により家督相続するが、将軍家が無くなり、茶道も斜陽の時期を迎えるという困難の中、家業の維持に苦心。