He was born in Hachi Village, Mikata County, Fukui Prefecture (currently it is Wakasa-cho) as the second son of Yoshimori SAKUMA, who was the Shinto priest of Maekawa-jinja Shrine and also the teacher of an elementary school.
福井県三方郡八村（現、若狭町）で前川神社神官・小学校教員、佐久間可盛の二男として生まれる。