Born in what is now part of Kagoshima city as the son of a "samurai" of the Satsuma domain, Itō studied naval engineering and gunnery and participated in the Anglo-Satsuma War as a member of the Satsuma domain's navy.
Born in what is now part of Kagoshima city as the son of a "samurai" of the Satsuma Domain, Itō studied naval engineering and gunnery at the Kobe Naval Training Center together with Sakamoto Ryōma and Mutsu Munemitsu. He participated in the Anglo-Satsuma War as a member of the Satsuma domain's navy.