He was born the younger half-brother (to a different mother) of Torii Zenni (also known as Tatsutanoharano Nyobo before becoming a Buddhist nun), who was the wife of Yukinori of the branch of the Shingu betto family who had held important positions as the main administrators of the three major shrines of Kumano (the Kumano Sanzan, including the Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrines) and later became the 19th Chief Officer (betto) serving the main branch of the Shingu family; because he lived in Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, he was called Juro SHINGU.
熊野三山の要職に就いていた新宮別当家嫡流の行範（のちに19代熊野別当に就任）の妻となった鳥居禅尼（たつたはらの女房）の異母弟として生まれ、しばらく熊野速玉大社に住んでいたため新宮十郎と称した。