In 1866, his father Munehide served as the assistant for subjugation of Choshu by the bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) on the Second conquest of Choshu in 1866.
慶応2年（1866年）、第2次長州征伐で父・宗秀は幕府軍長州征討補佐を務めていた。