Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America アメリカ椿大神社
Religion
Affiliation	Shinto
Deity	Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto
Leadership	Rev. Koichi Barrish
Location
Location	17720 Crooked Mile Road Granite Falls, Washington 98252 United States
Shown within Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America (the United States) Show map of the United States
Geographic coordinates	48°4′51.88″N 121°59′33.19″W
Architecture
Date established	1987
Website
www.tsubakishrine.org
Glossary of Shinto

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, also sometimes known as Tsubaki America Jinja or in Japanese as amerika tsubaki ōkamiyashiro (アメリカ椿大神社), was the first Shinto shrine built in the mainland United States after World War II. It was erected in 1986 in Stockton, California, and moved to its next location in Granite Falls, Washington, where it resided from 2001 to 2023.[1][2]

In 2023, the shrine relocated to Shin Mei Spiritual Centre on Knapp Island near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Ceremony was conducted to move the Gosaijin:(enshrined Kami/Spirits) Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami, ancestor of all earthly Kami and Kami of progressing positively in harmony with Divine Nature; and his wife Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, Kami of arts and entertainment, harmony, meditation and joy.[3] Also enshrined are Amaterasu Ōmikami (Kami of the Sun), Ugamitama-no-Ōkami (Kami of foodstuffs and things to sustain human life/Oinarisama), and America Kokudo Kunitama-no-Kami (protector of the North America Continent).

The shrine is now known as Tsubaki Dai Jinja North America (or, Hoku Bei Tsubaki Dai Jinja 北米椿大神社). It continues as a branch of Tsubaki Ōkami Yashiro, one of the oldest and most notable shrines in Japan.[4]

The Guji of Tsubaki Dai Jinja North America is Ann Evans, whose norito translations are widely used in the western Shinto community.[5]

Gallery

• 
  Torii at the entrance from the road
• 
  A lantern
• 
  A Setsumatsusha
• 
  Two Magatama
• 
  A hokora along the stream
• 
  Frog statues in front of a statue of Ame no Uzume
• 
  Sculptures
• 
  Shofuku no Tama
• 
  Torii into a Setsumatsusha
• 
  Magatama
• 
  Ema
• 
  O-mikuji
• 
  The main Torii
• 
  Torii reverse from the main Torii

See also

• Misogi
• List of Shinto shrines in the United States

References

1. "Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America: Shrine History". Retrieved 2020-04-27.
2. Ishida, Sarah Spaid (2008). The Making of an American Shinto Community (PDF) (MA). University of Florida. pp. 86–87.
3. Ramella, Sueann (2013-10-08). "What's So Special About This Shinto Shrine? The Priest Isn't Japanese, But That's Not All". Northwest Public Broadcasting.
4. Rots, Aike P. (2017). Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan: Making Sacred Forests. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 200. ISBN 978-1474289931.
5. "Shin Mei Spiritual Centre – Renewal through Shinto and Great Nature".

External links

• Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America
• Tsubaki Ōkami Yashiro in Mie Prefecture, Japan