He was adopted by his grandfather Tokuzaemon who was a samurai with a 150 koku stipend of the Kato family, the lord of the Yonago Domain in Hoki Province, at the age of 9 and proceeded to Yonago City.
9歳の時に伯耆国米子藩主加藤家の150石取りの武士である祖父・徳左衛門の養子となり米子市に赴く。