Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Banpo-in Temple

 

     The pilgrimage to Mount Chokai has an obverse route and a reverse route.  The reverse route is also called the Yashima Route and was said to have 18 temples to organize and support the Mount Chokai Pilgrimage.

     In 1845, however, the number increased to 24: Ganko-ji, Gassho-ji, Tofuku-ji, Hachiman-ji, Nanko-in, Kakuo-ji, Hoki-in, Kongo-in, Jissho-in, Daikyo-in, Senju-in, Fukusho-in, Tokusho-in, Kanki-in, Gyokuho-in, Bansho-in, Myoo-in, Ichijo-in, Daifuku-in, Jogaku-in, Banpo-in, Jugakuin, Shozo-in, and Itoku-in Temples.

     It is unknown whether Banpo-in Temple was one of the original 18 temples or was added later before the Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     Hitane Village was first documented in 1612, and was hit by floods and drought in the 17th century.  It had 15 households and the population of 104 in 1758. 

     Officially speaking, Nenoi Yukichika (?-1184), one of the 4 most important vassals of Minamoto Yoshinaka (1154-1184), who fought against the Taira Clan as a member of the Minamoto Clan, but who lost in the power games among the Minamoto Clan, was killed in the Battle of Uji (1184).  According to local tradition, however, Yukichika escaped to Hitane Village, and built Nenoi Fortress.  The Nenoi Family claimed to be his offspring.  Their offspring became farmers and called their family Tsuchida.

     Banpo-in Temple was located in Hitane Village, Yuri County.  It means it must have been either in Chokaimachi Kamihitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0515, or in Chokaimachi Nakahitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0514, or in Chokaimachi Shimohitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0513.

     Banpo-in Temple could have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.

     At the foot of Naka-Hitane Nenoi Fortress Site, there is Hitane Shrine.  It is unknown whether Banpo-in Temple's image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, was moved to the shrine or has been kept by Banpo-in's offspring personally.

Hitane Shrine

Address: Maenosawa−56, Chokaimachi Nakahitane, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0514

Phone: 0184-57-3227

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Gassan Shrine

 

     The pilgrimage to Mount Chokai has an obverse route and a reverse route.  The reverse route is also called the Yashima Route and was said to have 18 temples to organize and support the Mount Chokai Pilgrimage.

     In 1845, however, the number increased to 24: Ganko-ji, Gassho-ji, Tofuku-ji, Hachiman-ji, Nanko-in, Kakuo-ji, Hoki-in, Kongo-in, Jissho-in, Daikyo-in, Senju-in, Fukusho-in, Tokusho-in, Kanki-in, Gyokuho-in, Bansho-in, Myoo-in, Ichijo-in, Daifuku-in, Jogaku-in, Banpo-in, Jugakuin, Shozo-in, and Itoku-in Temples.

     As Hoko-in was given its in-go in 1746 by Haguro-san Jakko-ji Temple, which used to be located at the top of Mount Haguro, Hoko-in Temple seems to have been added to the original 18 temples.

     The temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, with the image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, moved to Gassan Shrine, to which Daishoin, the father of Wakoin, had presented the Amitabha Statue in 1677.

     In 1679 Peasant Revolt, Nizaemon of Shimojinego Village (Chokaimachi Shimojinego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0722) made up his mind to appeal to the lord directly, without regard for his own life, and even to the Tokugawa Shogunate if necessary.  Impressed by Nizaemon's determination, the peasants secretly began preparations to go to Edo.  First, Nizaemon prepared a petition, and asked Priest Wakoin to make a clean copy of it.  Wakoin was executed in Hadaka Mori on August 23rd, 1680, for the crime of supporting the revolt.

What did Daisho-in have in his mind 2 years before the revolt and 3 years before his son's execution.  Anyway, the shrine could have functioned as the memorial of the revolt and the spirit of self-sacrifice.

Address: Gassan 18, Chokaimachi Kamijinego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0721

Phone: 0184-59-2800

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Jion-ji Temple

 

     The Oi Family, which was later called the Yashima Family, died out in 1593, and their base, Nejo Fortress, was destroyed by Nikaho Kiyoshige (1560-1624).  Kaneko Abetaro was subject to the Yashima Family.  He rose up against the Nikaho Family, and held Aka-date Fortress, but was killed in battle around the fortress.

     It is unknown when Jion-ji Temple was founded at the foot of Aka-date Fortress.  It was the family temple of Abetaro.

Address: Ishigami-4-2 Chokaimachi Kamijinego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0721

Phone: 0184-59-2037

Nejo Fortress Site

Address: Kanazawa-50-1 Yashimamachi Arasawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0418

Aka-date Fortress Ruins

Address: Iroda Chokaimachi Kamijinego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0721

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Taho-in Gassho-ji Temple

 

     The pilgrimage to Mount Chokai has an obverse route and a reverse route.  The reverse route is also called the Yashima Route and had 18 temples which organized and supported the Mount Chokai Pilgrimage.  Taho-in Gassho-ji Temple was one of them and was located in Kogawa Village. 

     The temple was usually called Taho-in, but the temple’s priest was also called Tahoin.  Gassho-ji might have been the temple's official name.  Taho-in Gassho-ji Temple used to be located in Shimokogawa Chokaimachi Kogawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0505.  As there is a graveyard at the northernmost corner of Shimokogawa, the temple could have been located there.  Some of its holy goods, including the lion head for the lion dance, were inherited by the Mifune Family in Shimokogawa.  The family's ancestors could have succeeded the priesthood of the temple from generation to generation.  The family produced Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997), an actor and producer.

     Kuroishi Shrine, which enshrines a stone statue, is said to be located in the hill behind their house near the graveyard.  The temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.  It is unknown whether the statue is the #27 deity of the Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, Horse-Headed Hayagriva, or the #27 deity is personally kept by the Mifune Family.

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 ?

 

     A Kannon-do hall is located at the northern end of Takahashi Stock Farm.  The hall enshrines an Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image, which was taken care of by Shoemon of Koya Hamlet, Shimo-Kawauchi Village.  The hall could have been along the border between Shimo-Kawauchi and Fushimi Villages.  Fushimi Village was also first documented in 1612.

Anyway, was Shoemon an offspring of Shozaemon, who was one of the originators of the 1679 Peasant Revolt?  If so, the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha image could have been enshrined to pray for the comfort of those who sacrificed themselves, in a place where samurai didn't notice it.

Takahashi Stock Farm

Address: Uwabara-110 Chokaimachi Fushimi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0501

Phone: 0184-57-2738

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 ?

 

     When the Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized, Sukebei in Kogurisawa Hamlet, Shimo-Kawauchi Village, had an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses.  Later, his offspring moved it to Mitake Shrine, which might have been located in Mitakenokoshi Chokaimachi Kurisawa, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0503.  It is unknown when the shrine was abolished and where the image has gone.

     Shimo-Kawauchi Village was first documented in 1612.  The village had Okubo, Tsubobuchi, Sasubira, Koya, Tsuruoka, Tsuruta, Okurisawa, and Kogurisawa Hamlets.

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #24 Jugaku-in Temple

 

     Jugaku-in Temple was founded in 1690 by Priest Ryuji as one of the 18 temples in Yashima.  It had a Kannon-do hall with the Horse-Headed Hayagriva image as its main deity and prayers' hall.  It performed religious services and oversaw the stable rituals in the Hachimori Office of the Local Administrator.  According to Kimura Kikuro, a descendant of the hereditary monks of Juugaku-in Temple, the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868, the temple belonged to the Shingon Sect and survived until 1975, with 9 successive priests from Ryuji.  Juugakuin performed a ritual called stable purification, chanting sutras and distributing talismans.  Priests visited the houses in theYashima Territory in winter and those in the Iseiji Territory of the branch of the Ikoma Family, which used to be located mainly in Iseiji, Nikaho, Akita 018-0431.  The branch's local administrator office used to be located in Minamino Iseiji, Nikaho, Akita 018-0431.  The ritual is said to have continued until the early Showa Period (1926-1989).

     Half a century has passed since the closure of Jugaku-in Temple, and its exact whereabouts is already hard to know.

Sakanoshita Kaikan (Sakanoshita Community Center)

Address: Nakayashiki-10-11 Yashimamachi Sakanoshita, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0416

Kumano Shrine

Address: Funabagawara Yashimamachi Sakanoshita, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0416

Hachimori Fortress Site (Yajima Fortress Site)

Address: 7-1 Yashimamachi Yashimamachi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0402

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Shomyo-in Temple

 

     Mount Yashio could have been a holy place for northern foreigners.  It is a good observatory to see Mount Chokai.

     Yashio-san Shrine is supposed to have been founded sometime between 1467 and 1469 by the Sato Family, who were subject to the Tomai Family, who were based in Tomai Fortress, on the top of Mount Yashio.  The shrine enshrined Gyuba Koyasu Kannon, namely the Cattle Horse Child-Rearing Avalokitesvara.  Its name suggests the area’s main industry used to be stock farming.  The shrine was abolished after 2022, and the image was moved to Yasaka Shrine in Kurobuchi. 

     There is also Yashio Shrine on the top of the mountain.  It is unknown when the shrine was founded.  It is also unknown when Shomyo-in Temple, which enshrined the Thousand-Armed Sahasrabhuja image, was founded as its shrine temple.  The temple might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.  Although Mt. Yashiro is administratively located in Kurobuchi, Shomyo-in Temple was located in Tomai Village, which was located downstream next to Kurobuchi Village.  The temple could have been located not on the top of Mount Yashio but at the foot of it.  It is unknown whether the image is enshrined in Yashio Shrine or has gone to somewhere else.

Mount Yashio

Address: Yamanoshita Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231

Yashio Shrine

Address: 66PH+JR, Yurihonjo, Akita

Tomai Fortress Site

Historical landmark in Yurihonjo

Address: Tatemae-5-1 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Phone: 0184-69-2028

Yasaka Shrine

Address: Morinokoshi-573 Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Rintaku-ji Temple

 

     Rintaku-ji Temple was founded in Ashida Village sometime between 1576 and 1600 by Priest Soju from Noji-in Temple in Terada Village, Okachi County, Dewa Province.  As the 2 temples belong to the Caodong Chan School, samurai might have had something to do with the foundation of Rintaku-ji Temple.  However, Ashida Village had neither a fortress or a fort.  What was the samurai in the village like?  Or what was the village like to begin with?  Ashida Village was first documented in 1647.  Before the middle of the 17th century, the Ashida area was part of Tashiro Village.  Then, what was Tashiro Village like?

     In the Wamyo Ruijusho, namely Japanese Names for Things Classified and Annotated,  which was a Japanese dictionary compiled in 938, and which lists Japanese place names from south to north, Yuri County wasn't listed yet.  The county was first documented in the entry of May 3rd, 1213, in Azuma Kagami, which was a chronology compiled after 1266 under the directive of the Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate.  Yuri County might have been organized in the latter half of the Heian Period (794-1185).

     In the latter half of the Heian period, the Abe Clan, which held sway in Mutsu Province, grew so powerful that they rebelled against the Imperial Court, but the clan were defeated with the help of the Kiyohara Clan, a powerful clan in Dewa Province.  The Kiyohara Clan, which replaced the Abe Clan, was defeated by Minamoto Yoshiie (1039-1106).

     Then came the Northern Fujiwara Clan, which reached their zenith, but were soon destroyed by Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199).  In this way, the Abe, Kiyohara, and Fujiwara Clans changed.  Although these 3 clans had different surnames, in terms of blood ties, they were related by blood.

     Yuri County is supposed to have been initially ruled by the family of Abe Muneto (1032-1108).  When Yoritomo destroyed the Northern Fujiwara Clan, the lord of Yuri County was Yuri Korehira (?-1190).  According to Azumakagami, Korehira fought with Tagawa Yukibumi (?-1189) and Akita Munebumi (?-1189) against Yoritomo, but was caught alive by Usami Sanemasa (?-1190) on September 7th, 1189.  Even though he was a prisoner, he reprimanded Kajiwara Kagetoki (?-1200) for his rudeness, saying, "It is the common thing for a brave samurai to run out of luck and become a prisoner."  He accepted questioning after Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164-1205) showed his respect.  Yoritomo heard of this and forgave Korehira on the 13th "because of the honor of his bravery." 

     When Okawa Kaneto (?-1190), who was based along the eastern shore of Hachiro-gata Lagoon, and who was a remnant of the Northern Fujiwara Clan, rebelled against the Kamakura Shogunate in the Tohoku Region from December, 1189, to March of the following year, Korehira advanced north with Kudo Mitsuyuki and Miyaji Kunihira on December 24th to attack Kaneto.  Korehira was killed in battle on January 6th, 1190, in Momosada Village, Kawabe County, Dewa Province.

     According to tradition, in the early Kamakura Period, the Yuri Family established 4 fortresses under the direct control of the family and 8 local administrators to govern the county.  The 4 fortresses were located in Shiokoshi (Kisakatamachi, Nikaho, Akita?), Hirasawa (Hirasawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0402), Ono (Ono Matsugasaki, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0032), and Hanekawa (Shimohamahanekawa, Akita, 010-1503).  The 8 local administrators were located in Seki (?), Toshidai (Toshi, Nikaho, Akita 018-0422?), Tashiro (Tashiro Chokaimachi Kamikawauchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0504), Karuizawa (Karuizawa Habiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0906), Aranami (?), Kurose (Uchikurose, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0022?), Katsurane (?), and Tahara (?).

     In Kisagata, Matsuo Basho composed,

In Shiokoshi,

A crane cools its legs

In the summer sea.

     When Wada Yoshimori (1147-1213) rebelled against Hojo Yoshitoki (1163-1224) and failed, Korehira's son, Korehisa, was suspected of conspiring with Yoshimori, and the sovereignty over Yuri County was confiscated from the family and was given to Lady Daini, who was the nursery nurse of the 2nd and 3rd Shoguns.  The Yuri Family became local samurai and called themselves the Takizawa Family, who were based in Takizawa Fortress.  Daini transferred the county to her nephew, Oi Asamitsu (1198-1225), who lived in Shinano Province.

     In the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), the number of settlers from Shinano Province gradually increased, and they replaced the ancient local administrators and the offspring of the Yuri Family.

     During the Warring States Period (14676-1568), many rival powerful samurai family were based in Yuri County’s villages: the Yashima Family, the Nikaho Family, the Akozu Family, the Kataho Family, the Uteichi Family, the Koyoshi Family, the Shimomura Family, the Tomai Family, the Ayukawa Family, the Ishizawa Family, the Takizawa Family, the Iwaya Family, the Hanegawa Family, the Serita Family, the Kutsuzawa Family, and the Ne'nei Family.  However, no powerful family was based in Tashiro Village.  The industrial structure changed in the Kamakura Period, and rice became the main military provision.  Tashiro Village could have failed to catch up with the change, not to mention Ashida Village, which could have produced a samurai who worshiped the Caodong Chan School.

Address: Nishinosawa-41 Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232

Phone: 0184-69-3340

Noji-in Temple

Address: Aramachi-32 Tarada, Ugo, Ogachi District, Akita 012-1115

Phone: 0183-62-5151

 

Tashiro Fortress Site

Address: Tashiro, Ugo, Ogachi District, Akita 012-1241

Takizawa Fortress Site

Address: Takizawatate-79-3 Maego, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0341

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 ?

 

     The whereabouts of the #21 deity of the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is unknonw.  According to fragments of its information, there could have been either Mitake Hamlet or Mitake Shrine in Tashiro Village (today's Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232) and Sadanojo took care of a Horse-Headed Hayagriva image when the Yashima 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized.

     Tashiro Village was along the upper Takase River in the south of Tomai Village in the north of Kurobuchi Village.

     If there had been Mitake Shrine in Tashiro village, the shrine should have been merged to Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine after the Meiji Restoration since Shinmei-sha Shrine is the only shrine in Higashiyuritashiro.  If there had been Mitake Hamlet in the village, it would have become uninhabited and Sasanojo's offspring could have taken the image away with them.  To where?  It is unknown.

     When Ikoma Toshiaki became independent from his elder brother, Takakiyo (1643-1694), Tashiro Village was owned by Toshiaki.

     Although, Higashiyuritashiro has Rintaku-ji Temple, it might have nothing to do with the Hayagriva image.

     It was documented that there used to be Mitake Shrines in Kurobuchi Village (in today's Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231 and in Mizukami Higashiyurikurobuchi, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0231).  The 2 shrines were merged to Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine on March 2nd, 1910.

     Mitake Shrine in Mitakeyama is supposed to be the originator of Mitake Shrines in Akita Prefecture.  Its deities are Susano, Ukanomitama, and Toshigami.  The latter 2 are the children of Susano and are associated with food and agriculture.

     Mount Mitake must have been a holy place of local northern foreigners around the mountain.  They could have imported Ukanomitama, and Toshigami to have Mount Mitake or Mitake Shrine included in the Japanese Shinto hierarchy.  The locals might have regarded the goddess and the god compatible with their local goddess/god enshrined on the top of Mount Mitake.  Why did they choose the 2 when they had other agricultural deities such as Toyouke, who was originally worshipped in Tanba Province, and Ukemochi?  Anyway, the Kurobuchi villagers might have invited Mitake Shrine to pray for a good harvest.  If so, and if the Horse-Headed Hayagriva image was enshrined in one of the Mitake Shrines, they might have prayed for the propagation of their livestock as some breeders worshiped Horse-Headed Hayagriva by association.

Tashiro-Shinmei-sha Shrine

Address: Kameshima-38 Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232

Phone: 0184-33-3440

Rintaku-ji Temple

Address: Nishinosawa-41 Higashiyuritashiro, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0232

Phone: 0184-69-3340

Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitakeyama−6, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0804

Phone: 0183-73-1873

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Shoo-ji Temple

 

     There used to be Shoo-ji Temple, which enshrined the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha

image, in Kubo-62 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221.  When it was abolished, the image was taken care of by Kurozaemon.  His offspring moved the image to Kubo Shrine.

     In the east of Tomai Village, Arawa Village was developed.  Arawa Village was first documented in 1612.  The village was renamed Tatemae Village in 1679.  Presumably after the Meiji Restoration, it was renamed or mispronounced Tateai.

     Ogasawara Shikibunosho left Shinano Province, presumably hating or being tired of the infighting of the Ogasawara Family.  He arrived at Tomai Village (today's Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221), Yuri County, Dewa Province, sometime between 1467 and 1469.  Presumably, he was adopted by the local powerful family, and ruled the village.  He called his family Tomai.  The Tomai Family was based in Tomai-date Fortress.

     By the way, Tateai doesn't seem to have a Buddhist temple but Tateai-Jizo-son Hall, which enshrines Ksitigarbha.

Kubo-62 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Kubo Shrine

Address: Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Tomai Fortress Site

Address: Tatemae-5-1 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Phone: 0184-69-2028

Tateai-Jizo-son

Address: Yahata-24 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Kannon-do Hall

 

     Sonsha Mitake Shrine is located near Yoda-tate Fort Site, which was built by the Tomai Family, and which was documented in 1563.

     Ogasawara Shikibunosho left Shinano Province, presumably hating or being tired of the infighting of the Ogasawara Family.  He arrived at Tomai Village (today's Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221), Yuri County, Dewa Province, sometime between 1467 and 1469, presumably adopted by the local powerful family, and he ruled the village.  He called his family Tomai.

     In the middle of the 16th century, the Tomai Family didn't have a male successor and adopted a son-in-law from today's Yamada, Yuzawa, Akita 012-0055.  However, the family had a boy and infighting started.  In 1563, the son-in-law shut himself up in Yoda-tate Fort with a few attendants from Yamada.  From January 15th to 16th, the Tomai samurai attacked the fort from both sides and killed those from Yamada.

     The Yoda-tate Fort Site has a 1-meter-tall stone monument.  As the fort and shrine were in the hill, villagers built another Sonsha Mitake Shrine along Iwaisou River at the border between Terada and Ishida Hamlets for their convenience.  It was a kind of the abode for the god near the village.  Its stone monument alone exists today where the Prefectural Road 48 meets the river.

     The place name Terada suggests the land used to be dedicated to the Kannon-do Hall of Sonsha Mitake Shrine, which used to enshrine the Horse-Headed Hayagriva image.  The hall could have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.  The image seems to have been moved to Sonsha Mitake Shrine in the hill.

     Annually on January 5th, villagers carried Bonden (Brahma?) and Ebisu Straw Bag to Sonsha Mitake Shrine in Terada, shouting "Joyasa Joyasa" and blowing a trumpet shell, to pray for a rich harvest and the safety of each family.  The event was documented until 1989 at the latest, but was ended by the turn of the 21st century.

     80-90 Bonden Festivals are supposed to be held in Akita Prefecture.

     The Bonden offered at the event is a type of sacred wand made of a bamboo basket attached to the end of a pole decorated with cloth or other materials, and represents the abode of a god.

Address: Terada Higashiyurioikata, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0211

Sonsha Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitake-2, Higashiyurioikata, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0211

Yoda-tate Fort Site

Address: 0211 015 Higashiyurioikata, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0211

Trees In the Town

Virtual Yashima Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Senshu-ji Temple

 

     Senshu-ji Temple was founded in 1631 by the offspring of the Tomai Family.

     Ogasawara Family was based in Ogasawara, Kai Province.  In 1425, Ogasawara Masayasu (1376-1442) was appointed as the Guardian Samurai of Shinano Province.  After his death, his sons, Muneyasu (?-1446) and Mitsuyasu (?-1486), and his nephew, Mochinaga (1396-1462), mutually fought for the succession of the position.  In 1446, Mochinaga killed Muneyasu.

     What happened to the Ogasawara Family?

     Ogasawara Nagamasa, the 1st son of Ogasaawara Nagamoto (1347-1407), either died young of a disease or was killed in battle young, with his only son, Mochinaga, left.

     Nagamoto's 2nd son, Nagahide, succeeded him, incurred the animosity of the local samurai and was defeated in the Battle of Oto in 1401, after which he was stripped of his position as the Shinano Guardian Samurai.  Shinano Province was temporarily under the control of Shiba Yoshimasa (1350-1410), and, in 1402, it became a direct territory of the Muromachi Shogunate.  Nagamoto's 3rd son, Masayasu, came of age at the age of 13 in 1388, and, in 1405, Nagahide handed him the family headship and the Ogasawara Family's territory.

     When the Kanto Deputy Shogun, Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439), and his butler, Uesugi Zenshu (?-1417), got at war in 1416, Masayasu marched with Imagawa Norimasa (1364-1433), the Guardian Samurai of Suruga Province, and Uesugi Fusakata (1367-1421), the Guardian Samurai of Echigo Province, to put down Zenshu.  In 1417, he assisted Takeda Nobumoto, who was in Kyoto, in returning to Kai Province.

     In the Muromachi Period, whose central government was located at Muromachi in Kyoto, the Kanto area was half-independent and was governed by the regional government in Kamakura, which was ruled by the Kanto Deputy Shogun.  Both the central shoguns and the Kanto deputy shoguns were from the Ashikaga Clan.  The both rather rivaled each other and some Kanto deputy shoguns even tried to become central shoguns.

     To check the rivaling attempts, the central shoguns appointed some powerful samurai not only in the Kanto Region but also In Mutsu and Dewa Provinces, which were under the control of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate, to be directly feudatory to them.

     Those directly feudal to the central shoguns were called Kyoto Servants.  Although they resided within the jurisdiction of the Kanto Deputy Shogun, they neither had to serve the Kamakura office nor were supposed to be under the command of the Kanto Deputy Shogun.  

In 1423, Masayoshi marched to Hitachi Province with the Shogunate Magistrate, Hosokawa Mochiari, to rescue the Kyoto Servants there, the Yamairi, Oguri, and Makabe Families, who were in conflict with the Kanto Deputy Shogun, Mochiuji.  Masayasu was highly valued by the 4th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimochi (1386-1428), to keep the Kanto Deputy Shoguns in check, and, in 1425, he was appointed as the Shinano Guardian Samurai.

     In 1428, Masayasu went to Kyoto to suppress the Shocho Uprisings, which was the first launched by the peasants.  As social anxiety increased as a result of bad harvests due to poor weather since the last year and of an epidemic of cholera, the bashaku, the Japanese teamsters or cargo carriers who used horses to transport their shipments, of Otsu and Sakamoto in Omi Province demanded a debt moratorium.  This revolt spread and extended to all the provinces around Kyoto as peasants throughout the region who were struggling to repay their debts attacked and looted sake merchants, storehouse money brokers, and temples. 

     In 1432, Masayasu was recommended as the Archery and Horsemanship Instructor for the 6th Shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori (1394-1441).  In 1436, Masayasu defeated the Murakami and Ashida Families, who were in league with Mochiuji, and received a letter of commendation from Yoshinori.  The Murakami Family surrendered to the Shogunate in 1437, and the Ogasawara Family's control over Shinano Province was tentatively achieved.

     In 1438, the Eikyo War broke out between Ashikaga Mochiuji (1398-1439) and Uesugi Norizane (1410-1466), who became the Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate after Norimoto, in the Kanto Region.  The central Shogunate in Kyoto supported Norizane, and Emperor Go-Hanazono issued an order to suppress and punish Mochiuji as the enemy of the Imperial Court.  Such an order hadn't been issued for 60 years.

In the war, Masayasu marched to Kozuke Province and defeated the forces of Mochiuji, who were marching north towards Hirai Castle.

     Mochiuji was cornered to commit suicide by the central Shogunate and thus the Imperial Court.  His eldest son, Yoshihisa (1423-1439), also killed himself.  Yuki Ujitomo (1402-1441) sheltered 2 of Mochiuji’s younger sons, Shun'o-maru (1430-1441) and Yasuo-maru (1431-1441), in his castle, and rebelled against the central Shogunate in 1440. Masayasu also led the Shinano samurai to supress the rebellion, and the names of his generals appear in the Yuki Battle Register.  On April 16th, 1441, the castle fell and Ujitomo and his son were killed in fighting.  Shun'o-maru and Yasuo-maru were arrested and were to be transferred to Kyoto, but, on their way, at Tarui, Mino Province, they were killed, with their death poems left:

“Summer weeds,

Their flowers blooming in Aono Field

Who knows their future?” (Shun'o-maru)

“Who knows the future?

Our lives are to be limited today

Here away from home.” (Yasuo-maru)

     In 1442, Masayasu died in Unno, Ogata County.  He was 67 years old.  His eldest son, Muneyasu, succeeded him.  However, since he did not prepare a formal letter of succession, this created room for dissent.  

     Ashikaga Harutora was born on June 13, 1394.  At the age of 9, he entered Seiren-in Temple, on June 21, 1403.  On March 4, 1408, he became a priest, and was named Gien.  Ashikaga Yoshikazu (1407-1425) and Yoshimochi (1386-1428) died of a disease one after another, and the shogunate became vacant.  Chief vassals assembled at Iwashimizu-Hachiman-gu Shrine and decided the next shogun by lot on January 17, 1428.  And Gien became the sixth shogun, Yoshinori (1394-1441).

     It was Yoshinori that forced Mochiuji to commit suicide.  Yoshinori also killed his younger brother, Priest Gisho (1404-1441).  He also killed his powerful vassals, Isshiki Yoshitsura (1400-1440), Toki Mochiyori (?-1440), and others.  Finally he was assassinated by his vassal, Akamatsu Mitsusuke (1381-1441) on June 24, 2 months and 8 days after the execution of the 2 young brothers: Shun'o-maru and Yasuo-maru.

      Yoshinori's assassination, Hatakeyama Mochikuni (1398-1455) rose to power in the shogunate.  Masayasu's eldest brother's son, Mochinaga, had participated in suppressing the Hida Revolt in 1411.  In 1441, he made achievements in the Yuki Battle and in suppressing the Kakitsu Rebellion.  With those contributions for the Ashikaga Shogunate, he tried to make the head of the Ogasawara Family, supported by Mochikuni.  Meanwhile. Hosokawa Mochikata (1403-1468), who was the rival of Mochikuni in the central politics, backed Muneyasu.  The local samurai in Shinano Province split into two factions and started fighting each other.  The Ogasawara Family was in turmoil due to a family feud, which caused a disruption in their rule of Shinano.

     When the Onin War (1467-1477) broke out in Kyoto, Muneyasu's son, Masahide (?-1493), fought for the Western Army.  Mitsuyasu's son, Ienaga (?-1480) fought for the Eastern Army.  Mochinaga's son, Kiyomune (1417-1478), supported the Western Army.  Although they supported the Western Army, Masahide attacked Kiyomune in 1467.

Masahide was based in Suzuoka Fortress.  Mitsuyasu and Ienaga were based in Matsuo Fortress.  After Mochinaga took away Igawa Fortress from Muneyasu, he and Kiyomune were based in it.

     Ogasawara Shikibunosho left Shinano Province, presumably hating or being tired of the infighting of the Ogasawara Family.  He arrived at Tomai Village (today's Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221), Yuri County, Dewa Province, sometime between 1467 and 1469, presumably adopted by the local powerful family, and ruled the village.  He called his family Tomai.

     In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) confiscated the Tomai Family’s lands, and the family moved north out of Tomai Village, became farmers, and developed new land along Ishizawa River.  Their probable offspring, Jirozaemon, Nakatsukasa, and Yozaemon were documented in 1612 as farmers in Oikata Hamlet.  In 1617, Oikata held a market periodically.  The Tomai offspring held on.

Address: Oikata-10 Higashiyurioikata, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0211

Phone: 0184-69-3126

Tomai Fortress Site

Address: Tatemae-5-1 Higashiyuritateai, Yurihonjo, Akita 015-0221

Phone: 0184-69-2028

Suzuoka Castle Ruin

Address: 1055 Dashina, Iida, Nagano 399-2561

Matsuo-jo Castle Ruin

Address: Matsuo 1114, Iida, Nagano 395-0812

Igawa-jo Castle Ruins

Address: 1 Chome-8-4553 Igawajo, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0831