After having studied Western learning in Edo, he served as an attendant doctor to the lord of the Satsuma Domain, Nariakira SHIMAZU, however, he left the domain and served as an assistant teaching staff at Bansho shirabesho (one of the forerunner organizations of Tokyo University in Edo) after Shimazu's death.
江戸に出て蘭学を学び、薩摩藩主島津斉彬の侍医となったが、斉彬の死後に藩を離れて幕府の蕃書調所に勤める。