In the same year, he went to Katayama Juku (the Yonezawa domain's hanko), but quit for some reason related to his parents' home, and then he returned to Meien-ji Temple and implemented ascetic practices to become a priest.
同年、米沢藩の片山塾でも指導を仰いだが、実家の都合により中途退学し、明円寺に戻って僧侶となる修行に取り組んだ。