Mr. and Mrs. Hiroshi Matsumura of Stockton drove their new car to Tsubaki America shrine to be blessed in a ritual May 26.

Rev. Tetsuji Ochiai conducted a Shinto ceremony for traffic safety, purified the offering and the Matsumuras and delivered a Shinto prayer (Norito) asking that the Matsumuras and their family remain safe from accidents, drive safety and suffer no injury.

The Matsumuras then offered the Tamagushi , ever green brunch, to Kami, and prayed in appreciation for their safety up to that time and for their safety in the future.

Rev. Ochiai explained that the ceremony is important not only because it is a prelude to the purification of the new car but a time to focus their understanding on the need to drive safety. He told them to remember that they attended the ceremony with a calm mind and as they drive should remember that calm. The ceremony does not guarantee that they will be safe but can help them to put their energy into driving safety. After the ceremony, Rev. Ochiai purified the car, moving around the vehicle to purify the front, the right side, the interior right, the back, the left side, interior left, and, finally, the entire vehicle. When the purification ended, Matsumura placed a safety amulet in the car.

In Japan, many people visit Tsubaki Grand Shrine every day for the traffic safety ceremony and new car purification. On Saturdays and Sundays, priests purify over 200 new cars. In America, which has been called "The Society of the Car," Tsubaki America priests also are available to help drivers with safety ceremonies and car purification.