Born as the second son of Dohachi TAKAHASHI the first, he took over as the head of the family at the age of 29 because his brother died young; he started his own kiln in Gojozaka, Kyoto.
初代・高橋道八の次男として生まれ、兄の早世により29歳で家督相続、京・五条坂に開窯。