Virtual Kodama Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Saifuku-ji Temple

 

     Saifuku-ji Temple was founded by Priest Kyoi in 1262.  It burned down a couple of times, and was revived by Kanai Masatsuna in 1597.  The Later Hojo Clan had been destroyed in 1590, and Tokugawa Ieyasu had moved to the Kanto Region in the same year.  The Kanai Family became farmers, and their offspring still live in Shichihongi.

     Masatsuna married a daughter of Saito Sadamori (?-1582), who was based in Kanakubo Fortress in Kodama County, and developed Shichihongi Village in the same county.

     Taking advantage of the sudden death of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), the Later Hojo Clan soon launched an attack on the Oda Clan's territory, Kozuke Province.  The Kanna River ran along the border between the Kozuke and Musashi Provinces.  Takigawa Kazumasu (1525-1586), who was a vassal of Nobunaga, faced off against the Hojo forces at Kannagawa.  Kazumasu had 18,000 troops, while the Hojo wielded 55,000.  Sadamori fought for the Later Hojo Clan, and was killed in battle.  Saifuku-ji Temple seems to have been burned down in battle.

     Manju, another daughter of Sadamori had married a samurai in Kozuke Province in 1572, and committed suicide by drowning in a lake on Mt. Haruna in Kozuke Province in 1582.  The lion dance she loved is still performed in Kanakubo Shrine.

Address: 594-1 Shichihongi, Kamisato, Kodama District, Saitama 369-0306

Phone: 0495-33-0107

Kanakubo Fortress Ruins

Address: 1566 Kanakubo, Kamisato, Kodama District, Saitama 369-0301

Phone: 0495-35-1232

Kanakubo Shrine

Address: 1052 Kanakubo, Kamisato, Kodama District, Saitama 369-0301

Phone: 0495-33-6697