Zenjiro became a Ronin (masterless samurai) and, by the help of his father's connection, ended up studying as an apprentice for Kabuki playwright under kinji SHINODA the First (Later, Gohei NAMIKI), a Kabuki (traditional performing art) playwright of the Ichimura-za Theater.
浪人となった善次郎は父の知り合いのつてで、市村座の歌舞伎・狂言作者であった初代篠田金治（後の並木五瓶〈なみきごへい〉）に狂言作者見習いとして師事することとなった。