He started working for the lord of Satsuma domain, Nariakira SHIMAZU, on the recommendation of Nobuyoshi KAIEDA and became a chabozu (tea-server) to be given an alias name, Ryuan.
海江田信義の推薦で薩摩藩主島津斉彬に出仕し、茶坊主となり、竜庵と号す。