Debuchi served as a diplomat in China, where he was head of the Japanese Foreign Office division which dealt with Chinese affairs.[1] He later served as vice minister of foreign affairs for Japan.[2]
In 1928, Debuchi was appointed ambassador to the United States, succeeding Tsuneo Matsudaira.[3] He was due to leave his position during 1931, but remained in the position following the Mukden Incident.[1] As an ambassador, he was well liked in the United States.[4]
In November 1933, Debuchi left his position as ambassador to the United States, apparently due to his failure to convince them not to oppose Japanese actions in Manchukuo (Manchuria).[5] However, he remained part of the Japanese diplomatic mission afterwards, visiting Australia in 1935 as a goodwill ambassador.[6]
He and his wife Hama Kikuchi[7] had a son Masaru Debuchi[3] and a daughter[3] Takako Debuchi.[7] His son studied at Princeton University.[8] His daughter married Kōichirō Asakai, who served as ambassador to the United States.[9]
