Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, also sometimes known as Tsubaki America Jinja or in Japanese as amerika tsubaki ōkamiyashiro , 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. 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. 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 ). It continues as a branch of Tsubaki Ōkami Yashiro, one of the oldest and most notable shrines in Japan. The Guji of Tsubaki Dai Jinja North America is Ann Evans, whose norito translations are widely used in the western Shinto community.

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