At the age of 22, he was adopted by Kenzo AOKI (1815-1870) who was the director of Meirinkan Koseido (a medical institute) and later became the chief imperial doctor, and Danshichi became shizoku (warrior class).
22歳の時、明倫館好生堂（医学所）館長で後の宮廷大典医となる青木研蔵（1815-1870）の養子となって士族となった。