Shinto Returns to Los Angeles

Seen here is Shinto Priestess Izumi Hasegawa of the Shusse Inari Shrine of America performing the Nagoshi-no-Harae - Mid-Year Purification in West Los Angeles. The event was attended by a small group of people who each participated in the ceremony. While it has not been possible to travel up to Washington State to the Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America, this mobile shrine enabled us to still participate in the Mid Year Purification in person. While there has not been an established Jinja in Los Angeles in years, We welcome Reverend Hasegawa's small mobile shrine to help our connection with nature and Kamisama going in this complex urban setting we live in. 

Reverend Hasegawa seen left with volunteers setting up the traditional wreath participants walk through in a figure eight pattern with a series of bows of reverence. 

 A small tent setup to greet participants and the mobile shrine is seen in the background.

A quick view of the altar. While Hasegawa Sensei was okay with taking photos, we opted to keep this to a bare minimum out of respect as well as to not become a distrationfrom the work at hand. While he have seen the Shusse Inari Shrine of America small mobile shrine at New Years, we hope to see more of them here in Los Angeles and wish them great success in their effort to bring Shinto back to the City of Angels. To learn more about the Shusse Inari Shrine of America please visit their website.

First Rites of the Reiwa Era

Seen here is Emperor Naruhito performing his first rites within the Imperial Palace. In this age-old Shinto custom, the new Reiwa Emperor reports to this ancestors in three sanctuaries to announce his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Empress Masako also visited the same sanctuaries, her first visit since 2002. Over the past years, she has had issues with stress related to limitations placed upon her joining the Imperial Family. We wish her well and pray this transition will be a happier one. 

The Process of Abdication

As the Heisei Era draws to a close, Emperor Akihito performs a series of Shinto rituals at three Imperial Sanctuaries on the Imperial Palace grounds in preparation of his Abdication. As reported by NHK, the first ceremony was performed at the main shrine Kashikodokoro. Emperor Akihito bowed and read an ancient-worded script to report his abdication and its date to Imperial ancestor Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess, who is enshrined there. The Imperial Household Agency says he will also report his abdication at the Mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu in Nara Prefecture, who is Japan's first emperor. He will then visit the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Ise and from there to the Mausoleum of his father, the late Showa Emperor Hirohito. All of these solemn rites are being conducted in private. And while it is sad to see him go, it is a necessary completion to his thirty year reign. We at American Mishima wish the Emperor Emeritus a peaceful transition and a happy retirement.

When A Princess Marries

Seen here is Princess Ayako and her groom Kei Moriya at the Meiji Shrine before their Shinto wedding at the Meiji Shrine in Japan. The twenty-eight-year old princess is the daughter of the emperor's cousin. Her husband Kei is a commoner who works for a major shipping company. Under Japanese Law, by marrying a commoner, she is required to renounce all titles and stipends in exchange for her wedding vows, thus leaving the Imperial Family months ahead of Emperor Akihito's planned Abdication in 2019.  While she will no longer be bound by Imperial duties, she has vowed to continue to support the Emperor and Empress as a former member of the Imperial Family. We at American Mishima wish her and Kei Moriya much happiness and continued wedded bliss. 

Newest Yasukuni Shrine Controversy

With only six months left in the Heisei Emperor's reign left to go, Emperor Akihito and the Yasukuni Shrine (as seen in this AFP photo) have become the subject of a new controversy. The  had recently criticized the Emperor in the Shukan Post weekly magazine accusing him of "trying to destroy the shrine" which is best known for enshrining it's war dead going back to the Boshin War of the 1860's. Naturally, all controversies revolve around the enshrinement of twelve WWII Class A War Criminals including Hideki Tojo. Emperor Akihito has not visited the Shrine since he was made Emperor in 1989 but has been visiting the grave sites and memorials to Japan's War dead elsewhere. Japan Today reports that the new Emperor and Empress has no plans to visit the shrine to avoid such optics. Meanwhile, chief priest Kunio Kohori has since regretted his inappropriate comments that included a claim that the future empress hating Shinto. From our perspective, this is a very unfortunate event that will hopefully not mar or cast a dark shadow over the Twilight of the Heisei Era. We like Emperor Akihito and we also love Shinto. This should not have happened and we suspect there was a harsh reprimand from the Imperial Household Agency. Chief priest Kunio Kohori has since apologized for his comments and is said to resign from his position. A successor will be named at some future date.

一日の画像 Picture of the Day: Seijin Shiki

Seen here are two young women arriving at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls Washington for their Seijin Shiki (Coming of Age ceremony). This life cycle event commemorates reaching the age of 20. We at American Mishima wish these two young ladies a happy and successful life!

Hatsumiyamairi: Baby's First Shrine Visit Part II

It seemed only yesterday that we had boarded the Virgin America plane from LAX with our daughter Mia-Naoko at 32 days of age to fly north to Seattle for her Hatsumiyamairi at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Granite Falls Washington. Fast forward six years later, embarked once again on the same identical journey with our newborn son Luis-Makoto for his First Shrine Visit.

According to Shinto Tradition, boys are to arrive at the Shrine 31 days after birth. Had we lived in Japan or in the Seattle area this would be no problem. But being there are no physical Shinto Shrines in the Los Angeles area, our only option was to make the journey to the nation's only Shinto Shrine on the continental United States located near the Canadian border. The logistics of planning the visit complicated by our son's early birth by two weeks placed his 31st day smack in the middle of the Thanksgiving Holiday Air Fare & Hotel booking rush thus we would arrive two weeks later than originally planned. The important part is that we made it.

The last time our daughter Mia was there, she was an infant having her own Hatsumiyamairi so bringing her to where she had been blessed and to where her parents were married made this visit extra special. As in times before, we were happily greeted by the Guji (Head Priest) Rev. Koichi Barrish and Mrs. Barrish upon arrival. It is always a pleasure to see them. 

While photos were not taken during the actual ceremony, we can tell you that our son (with his parents and older sister present) was blessed in this important life cycle event to ensure his health and happiness in life as well as to express gratitude to our patron deities for his safe delivery through the recitation of prayer and the waving of the Tamagushi by Barrish Sensei. As with our daughter, our infant son was given his first taste of Sake. We can't say if he liked it or not but his reaction was priceless. 

After the ceremony concluded, we took some photos and later toured the Shrine grounds. We have made many good memories over the course of our four visits to the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of North America. In particular, visiting the sacred tree that sits along the Pilchuck River. It is a sight to see!

When you visit the Shrine grounds, one would be remiss to not visit the Inari Fox Shrine located on the edge of the Pilchuck river on the back end of the Shrine Grounds. It is a unique place to make offerings and be one with the Kami.

A view of the Torii Gates leading to the Inari Fox Shrine.

Yours truly with my children.

We hope you enjoyed this blog entry. If you are considering having a Hatsumiyamairi there,

please contact the Shrine through their website at Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America.

Former Princess Becomes Supreme Priestess at Ise Jingu Shrine

Mrs. Sayoku Kuroda formerly known as Princess Nori (daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko) is said to have assumed to post of Supreme Priestess at the Ise Shrine in Japan this past Monday. She replaces the 86 year old sister of Emperor Akihito Atsuko Ikeda who had held the position for the last 29 years. This is an important position that serves as the representative for the emperor. 

We at American Mishima wish her great success.

Kumamoto Quake: Aso Jinja Destruction

Seen here is the Romon (Gate) of the Aso Shrine in all its magnificent splendor as it looked prior to the Kumamoto Earthquakes. As you may have heard, the Aso Shrine which is one of the oldest Shinto Shrines in Japan suffered extensive damage leaving most of the complex in complete ruin. Shrines have been rebuilt before but this will be a long undertaking. The following photo shows how the Romon looks now. 

Terrible is it not?

Here's the Haiden ( Hall of Worship) before.

Here it is again after the Kumamoto Quakes. 

According to sources, both the Romon and Haiden collapsed at the same time around 1:23am Saturday April 16th. We at American Mishima are both saddened by the loss of life and the destruction of such cultural treasures. While the Shrines, Temples, and Castles can be rebuilt, the lives lost can not be recovered. We will continue to pray for the people of Japan.

Shinzen Kekkon Shiki - Our Shinto Wedding

As we have previously written here, yours truly Louis Edward Rosas (American Mishima Author) was married to Tina Rosas in a traditional Japanese Shinto Wedding at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls Washington State this past March 26th.The ceremony was officiated by the resident Guji(Shinto Priest) the Rev. Koiichi Barrish and his wife Mrs. Chika Barrish. Photo's by resident Shrine Photographer Joe Melberg and Kimono Rental & Kimono Dressing by our friend Kiyomi of KOTOBUKI Kimono of Seattle. We could not have asked for a more beautiful ceremony. Everything was as if divined by nature. Tina and I hope to live many long years in happiness together.We hope you wish us the same.

GAGAKU in Shinto Wedding

As some of our readers may already know, you're truly was married on March 26th in a Shinto Wedding at the Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America in Granite Falls Washington State. One question people have asked us was if there was any music played in the opening of the ceremony. For those not familiar, GAGAKU - the Imperial Court Music of Japan (most typically heard at New Years) was played for the opening moments which made for a most mystically auspicious beginning to this wonderful new chapter of our lives. While we do not have the exact track on hand for you to sample, this video from 2014 is pretty close.

Please Enjoy!

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

Seen here is yours truly on our wedding day taken March 26th 2016 at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls Washington. We shall have a followup story with many beautiful photos to follow.

Video Guide for Shinto Shrine Visits

With the upcoming New Years festivities fast approaching we thought you might find this video helpful. It is narrated in Japanese with English translations on how to conduct a visit to a Shinto Shrine. If you are planning to visit for the first time or haven't been to one in a long time this refresher course will help make your experience both insightful and spiritually rewarding.

We at American Mishima wish you all a Happy New Years!

Bomb Explodes at Yasukuni Shrine

In an event we never thought we would ever see happen, someone deliberately detonated a bomb at Japan's Yashukuni Shrine. The revered Shinto Shrine which houses Japan's war dead going all the way back to Japan's Boshin War of the 1860's has long been the subject of controversy due to the enshrinement of a handful of convicted war criminals who are enshrined there, most notably Hideki Tojo - Japan's wartime prime minister. While being a private institution and not a public one it still receives heavy criticism from China and the Koreas. The bomb itself is reported to have been a small device that was dropped through a drilled hole in a public toilet ceiling near the South Gate did little damage, no one was reported hurt. As of latest reporting from Tokyo has relayed, damage was contained to the toilet and did not cause destruction to the Shrine itself. So far no one has claimed responsibility for this attempted desecration of this sacred site akin to our own Arlington National Cemetery. There are over 12 million war dead enshrined there, too many to justify any such action in protest of the 12 Class A convicts there. We at American Mishima believe this is unlikely the result of any of the current terrorism that is taking place around the world at the hands of extremists. Until more is known about this attack, the Shrine has temporarily closed its gates to visitors until further notice. If you are planning to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, please check with their website at Yasukuni Shrine to ensure hours and conditions of operation.

New Video from the Tsubaki Grand Shrine

Tsubaki Grand Shrine - Setsubun 2015 from Alex Williams on Vimeo.

For those of you who have never attended a Shinto Ceremony especially in this country, you will find this video taken this last Setsubun will give you a sense of how ceremonies take place at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America located in Granite Falls just one hour's drive north of Seattle. We haven't been able to go up there in the last three years but we at American Mishima highly recommend visiting. Please Enjoy!

To learn more please visit: Tsubaki Grand Shrine

2015: A New Year with New Hope

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Welcome to our 7th year of our American Mishima blog and to the Year of the Ram! As we have done for the last several years we spent ours in Little Tokyo starting with the Hatsumoude New Years Service at the Los Angeles Koyasan Buddhist Temple where it was packed to capacity. This year we could not take as many photos but we can tell you there were plenty of kimono, Taiko, and many great Japanese dishes offered in and around Japanese Plaza and Weller Court. The feeling on our part is cautiously optimistic. We hope this year we sell more books and find a real publisher. We also hope bring in more work, an addition to our family, and that our little girl Mia can finally walk & talk without assistance. All these fortunes and happiness we wish for the New Year of the Ram. We hope that you the reader will please continue to support this blog and our books. May you all enjoy the many blessings and your wishes for this new year to come!

New Shinto Anime

Now and then, something truly inspiring finds its way onto the internet. As is such the case this beautifully animated short by Inaba Hideo with music by Uematsu Nobuo produced for the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Ise (The parent Shrine of the Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America) titled いせのいすずのもりの みや - Ise no Isuzu no Mori no Miya. It brightened our morning, may it brighten yours. Please enjoy!

To learn more of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Ise
Please visit Ise Jingu - English Page

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

Seen here is the famous Itsukushima shrine. Awe inspiring is it not?

The Lost Village at Terminal Island

When one thinks of San Pedro or Terminal Island, most people are unaware that there once lived a thriving Japanese fishing village there. Unique in fact, the Islanders had their own accent. But sadly, the peaceful village that had been settled by people of Wakayama Prefecture.  The population numbered around 3000 Nisei, Sansei, and some original Isei was forcibly evacuated February 1942 following the outbreak of war with Japan. None of it's original structures remain most notably it's small Shinto Shrine. In honoring the ten year anniversary of the erection of the Terminal Island Memorial featuring two Japanese Fishermen at work in the shadow of a Shinto Tori Gate, we at American Mishima chose to feature some recently re-discovered photos of the last days of the Shrine and attach the following video that speaks of both the Village and the Documentary Furusato: The Lost Village of Terminal Island.

And next comes the two sad photos no Shinto Guji or Practitioner would ever want to endure.

Though lost to the cruelties of history, not forgotten in our hearts.

More Reflections

As reposted from Japan Today: Emperor Akihito prays at the altar of his late cousin Prince Tomohito, in Tokyo, on Tuesday. Tomohito, who was sixth in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, died of cancer at age 66 on June 6.