When his mother, 龍, died in 1860, he was adopted by 九鬼隆周, a chief retainer of the Ayabe Domain who was looking for a successor, through the intercession of the lord of domain, Takayoshi, KUKI.
1860年（万延元年）に母・龍が亡くなるが、藩主・九鬼隆義の斡旋で、跡継ぎを探していた綾部藩家老・九鬼隆周の養子となる。