Born Kotō Kuritarō in Settsu, Osaka around 1735,[REF] Rokubei was the son of a farmer named Kotō Rokuzaemon (古藤六左衛門) [REF].
According to some accounts, the name Rokubei was given to him by the abbot-prince of Myōhō Temple (妙法院),[REF] who was very favourably impressed with a set of black Raku ware cups the potter made him.