Later on, he became an adopted son-in-law of Yusai SHIMOMURA, a Shinto priest of Matsui Village (present-day Nakago-cho, Kitaibaragi City, Ibaragi Prefecture), and named himself Tsuguji SHINOMURA (written as 嗣司 in kanji characters; there are also views that the name was written as 継司 or 嗣次).
のちに松井村（現茨城県北茨城市中郷松井）の神官である下村祐斎の婿養子となり、下村嗣司と称した（継司、嗣次とも）。