In December 1876, he got engaged to Berta, a German dowager, and asked the Meiji Government to permit marriage, but the government expressed disapproval of his marriage and ordered him to return to Japan.
明治9年12月、ドイツの貴族の未亡人ベルタと婚約、明治政府に対し結婚の許可を申し出が、政府は難色を示し帰国を命じる。