 Raised in the environment of the Inari Shinto Shrine in Fushimi just south of Kyoto, Azumamaro moved to Edo in 1700 lecturing on Shinto topics to a small school of mostly priests, and establishing a reputation as an authority on antiquarian matters. Perhaps inspired by Itō Jinsai’s success during the 1680s in establishing a Confucian private academy in Kyoto, and also perhaps by the Hayashi family’s success in garnering Bakufu support for a Confucian academy in Edo, Azumamaro also sought potential sponsors for his dream of founding a school dedicated to Japanese studies.