In 1888, he assumed the post of professor at Imperial University (later Faculty of Literature, The University of Tokyo), and the following year he became the first president of 'Shigakukai' (The Historical Society of Japan).
明治21年（1888年）、帝国大学文科大学（のちの東京大学文学部）教授に就任、その翌年には「史学会」初代会長に就任。