Known as a highly intelligent child, Inoue entered the domain's Confucian academy, eventually becoming one of the academy's resident students. He fought on the imperial side in the Boshin War to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu.
Recognized as an exceptionally intelligent child, Inoue studied at the domain's Confucian school and eventually became one of its students. He participated in the Boshin War on the side of the imperial forces to dismantle the Tokugawa regime.