In 1866 he underwent his coming of age ceremony and began his jushi (junior samurai) training, but in January 1867 the jushi system was abolished through military reforms of the shoganate and he was assigned to the rifle corps.
慶応2年（1866年）に元服して従士見習いとなるが、12月に幕府の軍制改革で従士組が廃止され、新設の銃隊に配属される。