Count was a Japanese politician and cabinet minister of the Meiji period.
Hijikata was a samurai in Tosa Domain (modern-day Kà Âchi Prefecture). He was sent by the domain to Edo for studies, where he became involved in the sonnà  jà Âi movement, and after returning to Tosa, he joined Takechi Hanpeita's movement. He travelled with Takechi to Kyoto in 1863, where he joined forces with the anti-Tokugawa shogunate forces of Chà Âshà « Domain and made contact with the kuge aristocracy, most notably Sanjà  Sanetomi. After the abortive coup against the Shogunate later that year, he was forced into exile with Sanjà  to Chà Âshà «. Following the First Chà Âshà « expedition, he fled to Fukuoka Domain together with Sanjà Â, where he later met with fellow Tosa countrymen Nakaoka Shintarà Â, and Sakamoto Ryà Âma whom he assisted in securing Sanjà ÂâÂÂs support for the Satchà  Alliance.
Following the Meiji restoration, Hijikata joined the Meiji government and was appointed a public prosecutor in Tokyo. He subsequently served in the Imperial Household Ministry and Home Ministry and as Cabinet Secretary to the Daijà Â-kan cabinet. He was subsequently made a tutor, then an Imperial Councilor to Emperor Meiji, who placed a great deal of confidence in him, and who made him a viscount (shishaku) in the kazoku peerage in 1884.
In 1885, with the establishment of the cabinet system, Hijikata was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Commerce under the 1st Ità  Hirobumi administration in 1887, and Imperial Household Ministry from 1887-1898. He was also made a member of the Privy Council from 1888.
Hijikata was awarded the title of count (hakushaku) in 1895. After his retirement from the Imperial Household Ministry, he served as president of Kokugakuin University. He died in 1918 at the age of 86, and his grave is at the Somei Cemetery in Tokyo.