Morinaga Sōkō was born in Uozu, Toyama in 1925 as the eldest son of five siblings, with three older sisters and a younger brother.

Young Sōkō continued training at Daitoku-ji monastery until he received inka shōmei from Sessō Roshi in 1963.

In 1984 he ordained Venerable Myōkyō-ni, head of the Zen Centre and closely affiliated to the London-based Buddhist Society.

He also inaugurated her London training place Shōbō-an as a Zen Temple, where the teachings of Sōkō, Sessō and Sōjun continue to be practiced.

Ursula and Daijō Oshō built Daishu-in West Zen Temple in California, north of San Francisco.