Before the Meiji Restoration, his name was Nabeshima Mochizuru (鍋島 茂実) and his honorary title was Hizen-no-Kami.

During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, he led Saga’s forces as a component the Satchō Alliance in support of Emperor Meiji, after the Battle of Toba–Fushimi and fought against the Tokugawa remnants at the Battle of Ueno and in the various campaigns in northern Japan against the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei.

With the abolition of the han system, he surrendered his domain to the central government, and departed Japan with his two younger brothers for studies in Great Britain starting 1871.

During his stay in England, he was appointed as official representative of Japan to the Court of St. James's by the Japanese government.

This marriage produced for Naohiro two granddaughters, the elder of whom named Masako who became known as Bangja, consort to the heir to the Korean Yi dynasty.