Born as the eldest son of Maya Yoshimatsu, a feudal retainer of the Tosa-Nakamura Clan who later became a judge.

After going through the domain school Chidokan and Kaisei School [ja], he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy's 7th Class on 1880 and became a second lieutenant candidate, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1883.

In 1888, he went to study in France, where he boarded a French warship for field research, and went on a business trip to the United Kingdom as a military construction supervisor and returned to Japan in 1893.

In 1901, he became the captain of the Takasago, and the following year, he was dispatched to the United Kingdom with Asama to participate in the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra as well as reviewing the fleet.

[1][2] In 1905, he became Rear Admiral of the Navy and chief of staff of Sasebo Naval District and Kure Naval District as well as Commander of the 1st Fleet and in 1907, he was appointed Commander of the Training Fleet.