He was born as the second son of Kuraichi TANAKA at Kameyama Kita-machi, Kuwata County (currently, Kameyama City), Kyoto Prefecture, and given special education to take over the head of the Tanaka family because his older brother died young.
京都府桑田郡亀山北町（現在の亀岡市）に、田中蔵一の次男として生まれたが、兄が早くに亡くなったため田中家の家督を継ぐべく英才教育を受けて育った。