Minehira was born in Fukuoka, the fourth son of Shigetane TACHIBANA (chief retainer of the Kuroda clan in the Fukuoka Domain), and served Tsunamasa KURODA from 19 years old onwards.
福岡藩黒田氏の家老・立花重種の四男として福岡に生まれ、19歳の時から黒田綱政に仕えた。