He was born in the Tonomi district, Suo Province (present-day Tonomi, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture), and was adopted by the Oda family which ran a Koya dye shop in Akamagaseki, Nagato Province (present-day Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture).
周防国富海（現山口県防府市富海）に生まれ、長門国赤間関（現山口県下関市）の紺屋（染工）を営む小田家の養子となる。