Studied Japanese classics under Ohira Moto-ori. In 1830, he accompanied his lord to Edo where he copied classic books and collated them. Was appointed an official in charge of old customs and practices. He was dismissed (1853) on a false charge and kept under house arrest for many years. His ideas were ultranationalistic.
Son of a retainer of the Kii Clan (Wakayama Prefecture), he became son-in-law in the family of another retainer.