Invited by Naonaka Ii who was the Lord of Hikone Domain in Omi Province, Kairyo founded the Kodokan school which was a han-ko school (school of a feudal domain) in 1799, thereby endeavoring to promote hangaku (schooling for samurai children).
近江国彦根藩主井伊直中に招かれ、1799年（寛政11年）藩校である弘道館を開き、藩学の振興に力を尽くした。