kawaguchi was born in the plebeian asakusa district of tokyo into an impoverished family. he was forced to leave home at the age of 14 to seek employment. he started to write in his spare time, while working at various jobs, which included working in a pawn shop, as a tailor, a policeman and as a postman at one point in his life. he came to be acquainted with author kubota mantaro, who encouraged him in his literary efforts.