He was raised in an impoverished family who made toothpicks to supplement their income, and though he experienced hardship, he was able to study swordsmanship and Western studies, and was appointed as an instructor at Kobusho.
房楊枝作りを手内職とする貧しい家庭に育ち、辛苦を舐めながらの生活であったが、剣術、洋学を学び、講武所の教授方として取り立てられる。