On February 9, 1867, he was born as the youngest child (fifth son) of Kohei Naokatsu NATSUME, mayor of Ushigome Babashita in Edo, which post had been handed down through the family for generations.
慶応3年1月5日（1867年2月9日）、江戸の牛込馬場下で数代前から続く町方名主、夏目小兵衛直克の末子（五男）として出生。