Virtual Kameda Domain 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #4 Kosho-ji Temple

 

     Kosho-an Hermitage was founded by the Akotsu Family sometime between 1573 and 1592 in Nakacho, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0843, to pray for the comfort of Oi Mitsumasa, who committed suicide in Nakacho and was buried there.  The family claimed to be the offspring of the Oi Family.  Kosho and Mitsumasa share the same Chinese characters.

     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 the 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.

     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 (?).

     Mitsumasa could have been one of the newcomers and could have been killed by the Yuri Family or their local administrators in the process of advancing along the Imo River toward its upstream. 

     During the Warring States Period (1467-1568), many rival powerful samurai family were based in villages: the Yashima Family, the Nikaho Family, the Akotsu 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. 

     The Akotsu Family ruled Ako-tsu Port and enjoyed good relations with the Ando Pirates.  The family built Akotsu Fortress on the top of the hill behind the port.  The family might have advanced upstream from the port.

     The Akotsu Family was dismissed in 1600.  Tateoka Mitsushige (1547-1639) moved to the area in 1603, but was dismissed in 1622.  In 1623, Iwaki Yoshitaka (1609-1672) moved in.  Under the Iwaki Family's rule, the hermitage was changed to Kosho-ji Temple in 1633 and was moved to its present place.

     Takao Village was first documented in 1625.

Address: Sawata-1 Takao, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0844

Phone: 0184-66-2224

Nakacho Fortress Site

Address: 112 Nakacho, Yurihonjo, Akita 018-0843