Virtual Yokohama City 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Soko-ji Temple

     It is unknown when Soko-ji Temple was founded, but, according to a written record on Izu Islands, when they founded Sofuku-ji Temple in 1440 in Hachijo Island, it was from Soko-ji Temple that they invited a priest.

     Soko-ji Temple was built on the site of Kannon Fort, which had been built by Mamiya Shirozaemon.  The fort was along the same ridge with Gongenyama Castle.  Mamiya Hikojiro and his family members fought for the Ueda Family, indirectly for the Later Hojo Clan, against the Yamanouchi-Uesugi and Ogigayatsu-Uesugi Clans in 1510.

     Later, Mamiya Yasutoshi (1518-1590) became a vassal of the Later Hojo Clan and managed the Izu Sea Forces.  His son, Nobutaka (1553-1584), was also the captain of the sea forces, and fought for Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616).  He was killed in the 1584 Siege of Kanie, which was fought between Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598).  The Kuki Sea Forces was on Hideyoshi’s side and had a large warship called Atakebune.

     As the fort’s name shows, the site might have been Kannon precincts from the older times.  The Kannon statue is about 18-centimeter tall, and is said to have made by Visvakarman.  It means by a foreigner craftsman.

     Mamiya Rinzo (1775-1844), who explored Sakhalin, was their descendant.

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