He was born in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, in 1888 as the third son of Ogata Dōhei, the secretary of Yamagata Prefecture.
Ia lahir di Kota Yamagata, Prefektur Yamagata, pada 1888 sebagai putra ketiga dari Ogata Dōhei, sekretaris Prefektur Yamagata.