Soon after birth, Udanji was ostensibly sent to the shibai-jaya Tsuruya in Osaka's Dotonbori district as an apprentice, however in actuality he was adopted by the tea room.
そこで生後間もなく大坂道頓堀の芝居茶屋・鶴屋に丁稚奉公に出されるが、実際は体よく養子に出されたようなものだった。