He had been interested in painting since childhood, and around 1811, at the age of 15, tried to enter the school of Toyokuni UTAGAWA at first, but was refused because there was no vacancy.
幼い頃から絵心が勝り、文化(元号)8年（1811年）（15歳）頃、はじめ初代歌川豊国の門に入ろうとしたが、門生満員でことわられた。