CAPTION (to photo): Dr. Yukitaka Yamamoto at Shin Mei Jinja enshrinement.

Shin Mei Jinja &emdash; a new Shinto shrine &emdash; has been enshrined on Knapp Island in Canada by Dr. Yukitaka Yamamoto, chief priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine.

Shin Mei Jinja is a branch of Kannagara Shrine, a Tsubaki shrine in Great Falls, Washington, headed by Rev. Koichi Barrish, an Aikido instructor and a Tsubaki priest. Like Kannagara, Shin Mei is part of an aikidojo (Aikido gymnasium). The island and the dojo are owned by Ann Evans.

Joining Dr. Yamamoto in the ceremony of dedication March 29 were Tsubaki America priests Tetsuji Ochiai and Yukihiko Tsumura and Kannagara priest Barrish. Among those at the garden ceremony were Mrs. Evans and her three children.

The ceremony started at 1 p.m. with purification (syubatsu). Dr. Yamamoto conducted the ritual of the divided spirit (mitama) of Sarutahiko-ohkami, the Kami of Tsubaki Grand Shrine (chinza-no-gi).

After priests dedicated food offerings to Kami, Rev. Yamamoto recited a norito (prayer) and priests and participants offered branches of sacred evergreen (Tamagushi) to the Kami. The offerings were then removed from the shrine and the door was closed. The ceremony ended with a final bow to Kami. After the ceremony, Dr. Yamamoto greeted those attending and the sake dedicated to the Kami was poured.

The Knapp Island dedication was part of a two-continent trip for Dr. Yamamoto. He presided at a meeting in Europe of IARF (the International Association for Religious Freedom) before arriving in the United States. He and his English-speaking assistant, Yuji Inokuma, flew to Seattle, Wash., to meet Rev. Ochiai and Rev. Tsumura and the four then went on to Kannagara Shrine.