A swordsman of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, he also served as head student at the Shieikan. He went to Kyoto in 1863 and became captain of the Eighth Unit. Young but gifted with sword talent, he fought in the Ikedaya Incident. In 1867, when his Hokushin Itto-ryu master Ito Kashitaro broke away from the Shinsengumi to form the Goryo Eji (Kodaiji-to), Todo followed him. However, on the night of November 18 of that year, after Ito was assassinated by the Shinsengumi, Todo and other Goryo Eji who came to retrieve the body were ambushed at Aburakoji and Todo was killed. He was twenty-three.

Young, passionate, and loyal to a fault. He left the Shinsengumi to honor his loyalty to his master Ito Kashitaro, and in the end gave his life trying to protect his master's remains.

His loyalty to his master and early death resonate with later generations. The Aburakoji Incident is remembered as emblematic of internal Shinsengumi conflict and the ruthlessness of the Bakumatsu era.