In 1877, he lived in Kobe with Tsuru HATA, a female sewing instructor who was older than he by 10 years, and married her in 1880, becoming a member of her family and bearing the name of Hata.
明治10年（1877年）、神戸で10歳年長の裁縫師匠・播田ツルと同居しており、明治13年（1880年）に同女と結婚（婿入り）して播田姓を名乗る。