In 1879, he began studying bible as he started to believe in Jehovah and went down the mountain to meet with the missionary of the Methodist Church in Canada, Eby (he is commonly referred as "(CS) Ibi-"), to consult his faith once learning that a Catholic priest was in Nagano Prefecture, and visited Missionary Eby on April 6 with his wife and baby (Reiichiro) and had him christened.
明治12年（1879年）、耶和華への信仰に目覚め聖書を学習していた折、キリスト教宣教師が長野県に来たことを知り下山、カナダメソジスト教会の宣教師「イビイ」（一般には「(CS)イビー」と表記される）と面会の上、信仰を説かれ、4月6日、妻と赤子（禮一郎）の3人でイビイ宣教師のもとを訪れ、洗礼を受ける。