He was the first son of Izo NAKAJIMA who was the goshi (country samurai) in Tsukaji village, Takaoka County, Tosa Province (now, Tsukaji, Tosa City, Kochi Prefecture).
土佐国高岡郡塚地村（現・高知県土佐市塚地）の郷士・中島猪三の長男。