Makiguchi was born in the small village Arahama of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, in 23 July 1871 (Lunar calendar date on 6 June), and abandoned. He was adopted by his uncle, Makiguchi Zendayu, and later moved to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, at the age of 14, to live with another uncle, Watanabe Shiroji. Working his way through school, he graduated from Sapporo Normal School (today's Hokkaido University of Education) in 1893. First employed as an assistant teacher at a primary school affiliated with his alma mater, he later taught high school and served as a dormitory superintendent.