 Mabuchi was raised in Hamamatsu along the roadway linking Kyoto and Edo. Taught to read by Kada no Azumamaro’s niece, he developed an early interest in Shinto and waka, which would become for him an escapist passion. In 1728 he registered in Azumamaro’s school and moved there for full time study in 1733, which is where he received his introduction to the Man’yōshū including Keichū’s commentary and the full range of Kokugaku topics taught there.