After graduating from Seisoku English School (today's Seisokugakuen High School), he helped his family business and engaged in logging of paulownia used for geta (wooden clogs) in Fukushima Prefecture.
正則英語学校（現・正則学園高等学校）卒業後、実家の手伝いで、福島で下駄用桐材の切り出しに携わる。