In 1771, at 38 years of age, the Shimaya was ruined in a fire, so he temporarily lived in the residence of a Shinto priest in Kashima Inari Shrine, and studied medicine with help of his friend, Kenkado KIMURA.
1771年（明和8年）38歳、嶋屋が火災で破産し、加島稲荷の神職方に寄寓して、友人木村蒹葭堂らに助けられながら、医を学んだ。