In 1507, Motokage succeeded the Soryo family of Kagawa clan after Mitsukage KAGAWA, who was his father and a valet of Masamoto HOSOKAWA, had died in battle in the Kinai region.
永正4年（1507年）細川政元の近侍であった父香川満景が畿内で戦死し、元景が香川氏惣領家を継ぐことになる。