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Medieval Shinagawa

Shinagawa from the end of the Heian Era to the Kamakura Era

The first written mention of Shinagawa appeared in the Heian Era (late 12th century). The Oi clan and the related Shinagawa clan ruled what is today known as Shinagawa. After the Genpei War, both of clans became Gokenin (vassals) of the Kamakura Shogunate.
The Oi clan’s territory in the Shinagawa area was transferred to the Hojo clan in the 13th century.

Shinagawa from the Muromachi Era to the Age of Civil Wars

  During the Muromachi Era, the Shinagawa clan’s territory was transferred to Kamakura-kubo (A chief of Kamakura-fu). Next, the Uesugi clan, a Kanto Kanrei, or assistant to the Kamakura-kubo, controlled the Shinagawa area, followed by the Gohojo clan.
  As you can see, influential people of the era controlled Shinagawa. One of the reasons was that it was Edo’s major port. The port at Shinagawa was considered to be at the mouth of the Meguro River.
In addition, the port was a maritime relay point between the Pacific Ocean and Edo Bay to northern Kanto and Tohoku.
  Shinagawa flourished as a port town. Many temples were built for the purpose of spreading Buddhism in Kanto. At that time, Prosperous merchants and shipping agents called “Utokunin” donated land and buildings to temples. Most of today’s temples in the north and south of Shinagawa were built during this time.
  The foundations of Shinagawa-shuku (Shinagawa Post Station) was completed in the Edo Era.

Tokoname ware, large pot
This pot was found at Gotenyama in northern Shinagawa. It was made in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, in the first half of the 15th century. At that time, these pots were carried to all over Japan. For this reason, it is thought that these pots are related to Shinagawa port.