He joined the Roshigumi (an organization of masterless samurai) upon its formation in 1863 and left for Kyoto, remaining there with Kondo and forming the Shinsengumi after the group split.
文久3年（1863年）の浪士組結成に参加して上洛、分裂後は近藤らに従い残留し、新選組を結成する。