He had entered the Yasui family when he was still young, and would eventually be promoted to 7 dan on December 24, 1848.
Unlike many strong players of his time, Ota never once competed in the castle games.
This was due to Ota not following the policy that a go player must shave his head in order to play in the castle games, and given an official rank.
At the time, Ota gave an appeal to the policy to allow him to be given the rank of 7 dan.
Looking at that fact, after discussion, he was given the rank of 7 dan by the academy, without competing in castle games, or shaving his head.
The players were Yasui Sanchi, Ito Showa, Sakaguchi Sentoku, Hattori Seitetsu, and Ota.
It was thought as a great achievement, having a tie after taking white, so much that it was used, along with Shusaku's calling up for the castle games, as an excuse to adjourn the match.
Before his death, he had called the tie against Shusaku "Ota's Lifetime Masterpiece".