He operated a dyer's shop with his father Isaburo EBIYA, but he loved plays so much that he intended to be a playwright; at last, he became a disciple of Jisuke SAKURADA, and later practiced under Sansho KANAI, Gohei NAMIKI, Jusuke NAKAMURA, and Kinpachi MASUYAMA.
父の海老屋伊三郎とともに紺屋を生業としていたが、生来の芝居好きのため狂言作者を志して安永5年(1777)初代桜田治助の門に入り、のち金井三笑、並木五瓶、中村重助、増山金八らに師事する。