The Tsubaki America
Newsletter offers a new format and expanded agenda. Every issue,
readers will hear directly from Dr. Yukitaka Yamamoto, chief priest
of Tsubaki Grand Shrine. The newsletter also
Will
present essays by four
key friends of
Tsubaki.
Two members of
the board of
Tsubaki America will explore their experiences with and understanding
of
Shinto, Dr. Richard
Boeke, former minister
of the Unitarian
Church in Berkeley, and Dr. George William, professor
of
religion at California State University at Chico. Also presenting
their ideas will be Dr. Stuart
D.B. Picken,
professor at International Christian University in Tokyo, and Mr.
Koichi Barrish, an Aikido sensei ( master ) in Everett,
WA.
I am very
pleased to introduce the new version of our newsletter,
Tsubaki News, Tri-monthly. With support
from friends in the United States, Tsubaki America was
incorporated as a charitable corporation in California in
May 1979. In June, 1987, a garden shrine was constructed in
Stockton and, in the eight years since, Tsubaki America
(better known by the friendly name Tsubaki House) has held
activities designed to deepen friendship through dialogue
and encourage world peace, and has prayed for peace and
prosperity for all who visited the shrine. Tsubaki America
was the first Shinto shrine established on the mainland of
the United States. (In Hawaii, 6 Shinto shrines exist.) It
was my dream to found a Shinto shrine and because of the
warm environment of support, Tsubaki America is able to
celebrate its eighth anniversary. I would like to express my
sincere appreciation to all who have helped the
shrine. Tsubaki America
is the America branch of Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Mie
prefecture, one of the oldest shrines in Japan with 2000
years of history.
Tsubaki Grand
Shrine enshrines Sarutahiko no Ohkami, the kami of guidance. At
Tsubaki America, four kamis in addition to Sarutahiko are enshrined:
Amaterasu Ohkami, the sun or the Sun Goddess; America Kokudo
Kunitamanokami the kami of the United States of America; Amenouzume
no Mikoto, the Kami of Harmony (wife of Sarutahiko Ohkami), and Inari
Ohkami, the Kami of Food and Harvest.
I believe there is universality in Shrine Shinto because it shows us the importance of living by following the law of the great nature and its restless movement, such as four seasons. This is called by its specific term, Kannagara. Shinto puts great emphasis on being thankful for being given life from the sun by praying every day to the sun as the source of life. Shinto supports being positive and trying to enjoy life.
Shinto explains to us that the sun pours its infinite energy equally on all human beings and therefore all are equal under the sun. And because we are equal, we should be able to cultivate our spirituality and respect each other.
The objective of Tsubaki America is to introduce Shinto effectively, so friends outside of Japan will understand what I call the universality in Shinto. This is why Tsubaki America is a place for dialogue to develop understanding and communication and why Tsubaki News is being published.
Tsubaki News will carry a variety of essays by scholars and specialists in various fields as well as Shinto and other religions. Our newsletter will include articles about religious movements in Japan, translations of articles and excerpts from Japan Tsubaki publications, and reports on interfaith meetings and conferences.
Write to us with your opinions and questions about Tsubaki News. Keep your eyes on this newsletter because we will make important announcements about programs seminars, retreats and services.