Virtual Honjo Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Tensho-ji Temple

 

     Mitake Shrine was founded, or was invited, in 1616 by Satake Zushonosuke.  Who was he?

     In 1602, Satake Yoshinobu (1570-1633) was demoted from Hitachi Province to Akita County, Dewa Province, with his income more than halved.  Before he left Hitachi to Akita, he declared that his vassals couldn't earn what they had enjoyed and that he wouldn't take lower-class samurai with him.  Zushonosuke could have been a lower-class samurai at the bottom of the Satake Clan.  It is unknown whether he became a farmer or was employed by Rokugo Masanori (1567-1634), who was promoted with his income increased by 4 times in 21 years.

     Anyway, Tensho-ji Temple might have been founded in those days as twin religious institutions with Mitake Shrine in Maekawa Village, which was first documented in 1612.  In those days, the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism was popular.

Address: Mitakemae-137, Kurokawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0302

Phone: 0184-38-4146

Mitake Shrine

Address: Mitakeushiro−12, Kurokawa, Nikaho, Akita 018-0302

Phone: 0184-38-2564