A low-ranking samurai, Katsu Kokichi was a noted calligrapher and Confucian scholar but led a life of idleness and practices contrary to samurai-class ideals.
After their father's retirement as family head, Hikoshiro became responsible for all the family; he was a noted calligrapher and Confucian scholar and was twice distinguished as district administrator within the shogun's domain. His half brother, Otani Hikoshiro, was twenty-five years older than Kokichi. 
