At the age of eight, he learned how to write; at the age of 10, began to read basic Chinese literature; at the age of 15, celebrated his coming of age; at about the age of 20, he began to learn ancient Japanese literature and became attached to "Kokin Wakashu" (A Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry) by the influence of his teacher, besides, he knew Norinaga MOTOORI, a great scholar of ancient Japanese literature and culture, through his works, and became interested in such studies.
彼は八歳にして手習いを始め、十歳には書を学び素読を習い、十五歳で元服、二十歳頃には和学を学び、其の師の指導により古今和歌集にしたしみ、やがて本居宣長の存在を読書によって知り国学に関心を抱くようになった。