By Rev. Yukihiko Tsumura

Tsubaki America celebrated the 10th anniversary of its shrine in Stockton, Calif., with a ceremony and reception May 17 that drew 130 persons.

Representing Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Japan were Rev. Yukiyasu Jun Yamamoto, assistant chief priest, and Rev. Hisao Ohtake of the shrine's Tokyo office. Fifteen Tsubaki members flew with them from Japan to attend the anniversary.

Representing shrine activities in America were Rev. Tetsuji Ochiai and Rev. Yukihiko Tsumura, the priests assigned to the California shrine, and Rev. Koichi Barrish, Aikido master who became a Tsubaki priest in 1995 after study at the shrine in Japan and who has a shrine near Everett, wash.

The observance also featured a dance by Erina Nakamura of Los Angeles who trained at Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Japan from October, 1995, to March, 1996, and a violin solo by Dr. Judith Gellard of Chico, wife of Tsubaki America board member George Williams.