She was born as the fifth daughter (the youngest of nine children) of Tota KOBAYASHI who was a warrior class (a samurai belonged to the former Matsushiro Domain) in Kiyono-mura Village, Hanishina-gun County, Nagano Prefecture (presently known as Kiyono, Matsushiro-cho, Nagano City [Nagano Prefecture]).
長野県埴科郡清野村（現・長野市松代町(長野県)清野）に士族小林藤太（旧松代藩武士）の五女（九人兄妹の末っ子）として生まれる。