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In [[1852]], Kaishû's younger sister [[Katsu Junko]] married ''Rangaku'' scholar [[Sakuma Shozan|Sakuma Shôzan]].<ref name=edotokyo/>

In [[1852]], Kaishû's younger sister [[Katsu Junko]] married ''Rangaku'' scholar [[Sakuma Shozan|Sakuma Shôzan]].<ref name=edotokyo/>

As of [[1853]], Kaishû was serving the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as a public works (''kobushin'') official,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 456.</ref> and was assigned in [[1855]] to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in [[Shimoda]];<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 6.</ref> later that same year he was assigned to oversee various matters in [[Nagasaki]] and also to undertake training in steamship operation.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 95.</ref> Kaishû then rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy in [[1860]] and captained [[Kanrin Maru|Japan's first cross-Pacific journey]] to [[San Francisco]]. In [[1862]], he was then named ''[[Gunkan bugyo|Gunkan bugyô]]'' (Warship Magistrate).

As of [[1853]], Kaishû was serving the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as a public works (''kobushin'') official,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 456.</ref> and was assigned in [[1855]] to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in [[Shimoda]];<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 6.</ref> later that same year he was assigned to oversee various matters in [[Nagasaki]] and also to undertake training in steamship operation.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 95.</ref> Kaishû then rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy in [[1860]] and captained [[Kanrin Maru|Japan's first cross-Pacific journey]] to [[San Francisco]]. In [[1864]], he was then named ''[[Gunkan bugyo|Gunkan bugyô]]'' (Warship Magistrate) and was granted the title ''Awa no kami''. He was stripped of his position as Magistrate later that same year and sentenced to house confinement, but was restored to the position in [[1866]].  

Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s [[sonno|pro-Imperial]], [[joi|anti-foreign]] radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]] became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in [[Kobe]] and installed Ryôma as its head. Kaishû also contributed to the surrender of [[Edo]] to pro-Imperial forces without resistance in order to avoid catastrophic losses of life and property.  

Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s [[sonno|pro-Imperial]], [[joi|anti-foreign]] radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]] became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in [[Kobe]] in [[1863]], installing Ryôma as its head.

Following the [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further.

Following the [[1868]] [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further.

In the [[Meiji period]], Kaishû was granted the title of ''Hakushaku'' in the new Meiji [[kazoku|peerage]], and went on to serve as head of the [[Privy Council]] for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. In [[1891]], via a connection through [[Tsuda Sen]] (father of [[Tsuda Umeko]]), Kaishû purchased a plot of land at Senzoku-ike (Senzoku Pond), and built his retirement home there. Following his death in [[1899]], he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today ''Senzoku-ike kôen'' (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in [[Tokyo]].

In the [[Meiji period]], Kaishû was granted the title of ''Hakushaku'' in the new Meiji [[kazoku|peerage]], and went on to serve as head of the [[Privy Council]] for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. In [[1891]], via a connection through [[Tsuda Sen]] (father of [[Tsuda Umeko]]), Kaishû purchased a plot of land at Senzoku-ike (Senzoku Pond), and built his retirement home there. Following his death in [[1899]], he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today ''Senzoku-ike kôen'' (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in [[Tokyo]].