text: served the  lord's grandson until 1780 when he declared himself  at age 14 leaving the following :
  こがらしに
  思い立ちけり
  神の旅
  Chilled by winter winds
  I have decided
  To journey with the gods.
  was able to secure a position for him in 1781, the longest  would hold, until he departed in 1784 due to dissatisfaction.  then moved in with  for a short time until 's lord died, discharging him from service in 1785. He found a position for , though the young  stayed on for less than a year.  died unattended in September 1786.
  's death humbled  who became ill in 1788. He left his post as a  and moved in with  who had spent most of his savings on medicine. This was the last time  would serve as a . He would study medicine but find the profession uncomfortable before pursuing jobs as a comic poet, fortuneteller, comedian, and Confucian Scholar. 's turning point came in 1790 when he approached the very successful author, , seeking help with the publication of the former 's first work,  ().
  In 1798  died of dysentery leaving  as the sole male heir of the  line. He swore to restore the family line. 's two daughters had died of illness in infancy.