When Kichigoro OGAWA, a personal retainer and Kyogen performer of the Hikone clan, suddenly fell ill during his performance of "Makuramonogurui" (a Kyogen love story between an old man and a young girl) at a Noh ceremony held in Hikone Castle in 1830, Sengo (20 years old at that time) managed to perform as a substitute for Kichigoro, by which Sengo gained favor with Naosuke II, the lord of the Hikome clan and was taken into his service on the spot.
天保元年（1830年）に彦根城で能会が開かれた折に、彦根藩のお抱え狂言師であった小川吉五郎が「枕物狂」を上演中に急病で倒れ、その後を千吾（当時20歳）が見事に代演してみせたので、藩主の井伊直弼に気に入られ、その場で召し抱えられた。