In December 1838, he was born as the third child of Yoemon NAKAMURA (Kaneaki KIRINO), who was a samurai retainer living in a castle town in Sanekata, Yoshino Village, Kagoshima County.
天保9年（1838年）12月、鹿児島郡吉野村字実方で城下士の中村与右衛門（桐野兼秋）の第三子として生まれる。