[1] Disgusted by the ukiyo lifestyle of contemporary Edo, Ōtaguro became involved with the Tosa Kinnōtō [ja] movement of Takechi Hanpeita.
[1] He became a disciple of Hayashi Ōen's school of classical Japanese literature and theology, and followed his mentor into the Shinto priesthood,[2] becoming shikan of the Isa Ote Jingu shrine at Shinkai.
[3] After the death of Ōen, Ōtaguro, together with some of his contemporaries, founded the Shinpūren movement, a xenophobic nationalist organisation.
In October 1876, members of the group, led by Ōtaguro, staged a revolt against the local government in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Their initial success was quickly quashed by the Imperial Japanese Army garrison stationed in Kumamoto, and by the following morning around 120 of the 200 rebels were dead, including Ōtaguro himself.