He was born in 1907 to a geological scientist Takuji OGAWA and his wife Koyuki as their third son in Ichibei-cho Town, Azabu Ward, Tokyo City (present Minato Ward (Tokyo Prefecture)).
1907年、東京市麻布区市兵衛町（現・港区(東京都)）に地質学者・小川琢治・小雪夫妻の三男として生まれる。