 He fought in the Satsuma Rebellion in an artillery battalion, and served briefly as a crewman on the and .He was in charge of torpedo development from 1879–1883, and is called the “father of the Japanese torpedo”.Promoted to captain in 1885, Shibayama went to the United States and Europe in 1886 together with Saigō Tsugumichi, and on his return was promoted to acting director of the Armaments Department within the Ministry of the Navy of Japan, much to the outrage and opposition of Admiral Yamamoto Gonnohyōe.