He studied at a domain school Kodokan (in Saga domain) and participated in a political association named Gisai-domei with Shinpei ETO, Shigenobu OKUMA and Taneomi SOEJIMA.
藩校の弘道館(佐賀藩)で学び、江藤新平や大隈重信、副島種臣らと共に義祭同盟に参加。