In general, children of the nobility went on to attend Gakushuin High School after graduating from Gakushuin Junior High School, but because he was influenced by Inazo NITOBE, who was the headmaster of Daiichi High School, he went on to attend that school instead.
学習院中等科を修了後、華族の師弟は学習院高等科にそのまま進学するのが通例だが、当時第一高等学校(旧制)の校長であった新渡戸稲造に感化され、一高を受験して進学。