Nankokuji Temple (Meaka Fudo)
This temple was founded in 1616 by the monk Mangyo.
Mangyo, an ardent devotee of Fudo Myoo, received a statue of Fudo Myoo at Akameyama in Ise Province (present-day Mie Prefecture), and later opened a hermitage by present day Honkomagome 3-chome, where he enshrined the statue of Fudo Myoo.
In 1628, Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ordered the name be changed from "Akame Fudo" to "Meaka Fudo" when he visited the temple whilst out practicing falconry. Today the temple is known as one of five temples that make up the "Edo Goshiki Fudo".
In addition to Meaka Fudo, there are also the Meguro, Mejiro, Meao, and Meki Fudo. It is said that Iemitsu chose five Fudo statues in the center, east, west, south, and north of the city, and assigned them colors representing the five directions. This was done in order to pray for peace and prosperity in the country.
