He was born as the third son to Shinzaburo SOEDA, a craftsman who lived in Hirowatari-mura, Onga County, Chikuzen Province (present-day Onga-cho, Onga County, Fukuoka Prefecture), in 1864.
1864年、筑前国遠賀郡広渡村（現・福岡県遠賀郡遠賀町）の職人・添田新三郎の三男として生まれる。