Being in poverty due to his father's asthma, he was supported by Nobune ONO, an acquaintance of Konosuke KAWAKITA, began to go to Hoen-sha in 1893 and became a ranked player the following year.
父の喘息のために困窮していたが、河北耕之助の知人の小野述信の援助を受け、1893年(明治26年)から方円社に通い始めるようになり、翌年入段する。