USA pride: Meet the first (and only) non-Japanese Shinto priest in 2,000 years

Lawrence Barrish Becomes First Non-Japanese Shinto Priest

In 1995, a martial artist from America did what no one had done in 2,000 years.

Lawrence Koichi Barrish broke through ancient barriers to become the first non-Japanese Shinto priest in history. His path began with aikido at age 19, then led to dozens of trips to Japan’s Tsubaki shrine.

For years, priests there said “no way” because of his birth. Yet his teacher, a 96th-generation high priest, finally changed his mind.

Soon after, Barrish built a shrine in Granite Falls, Washington, where he waded into the cold Pilchuck River daily for three decades.

The story of this spiritual pioneer unfolds at Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, now the most important Shinto site outside Japan.

A Teenage Fascination Sparked His Spiritual Quest

Lawrence Barrish started aikido at 19 in 1969. Born April 15, 1950, he loved the martial art and became fascinated by its founder, Morihei Ueshiba.

Barrish cared less about the physical moves and more about Ueshiba’s reputation as a Shinto mystic with amazing abilities. He wanted to learn the spiritual practices that made Ueshiba such a great martial artist.

This interest in linking physical training with spiritual power led him toward religious leadership.

His First Trips to Japan Met With Polite Rejection

Barrish began visiting Tsubaki Okami Yashiro shrine in Japan’s Mie Prefecture in the 1980s. This old shrine, over 2,000 years old, became where he learned.

The priests welcomed him as a visitor but told him clearly, “You can’t become a priest because you’re not Japanese. ” Barrish kept coming back anyway, making several trips each year to study and train.

The more time he spent at the shrine, the more connected to Shinto he felt.

He Built His Own Shrine When Told He Couldn’t Be a Priest

After being told no about becoming ordained, Barrish took a bold step in 1992. He built Kannagara Jinja, his own Shinto shrine in Granite Falls, Washington.

“They said I couldn’t become a priest, but nobody said I couldn’t build a shrine,” Barrish later explained. He picked a spot near the Pilchuck River, perfect for the cold-water cleaning rituals key to Shinto practice.

The name “Kannagara,” meaning “divine flowing,” came to him while meditating.

The 96th-Generation High Priest Changed Everything

Yamamoto Yukitaka, the 96th-generation high priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine, saw something special in Barrish. After years watching his dedication, Yamamoto talked with top shrine officials about making a big change.

In 1995, they gave Barrish an official Jinja Shinto priest license, breaking a 2,000-year tradition that only Japanese people could be priests.

Barrish became the first non-Japanese person ever to get this honor. The decision shocked the Shinto community.

California Housed America’s First Post-War Shinto Shrine

Before Barrish built his shrine in Washington, Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America started in Stockton, California in 1987.

This was the first mainland US Shinto shrine built after World War II, when Shinto practices faced limits under American control.

The California shrine worked as an official branch of the ancient Tsubaki Okami Yashiro in Japan. Though thousands of miles away, the American shrine kept direct spiritual ties to its mother shrine in Mie Prefecture.

Someone Donated 17 Acres for a Bigger American Shrine

In 2001, someone gave 17 acres in Granite Falls that changed American Shinto forever. The Tsubaki shrine leaders decided to move from California and join with Barrish’s Kannagara Jinja.

They did special ceremonies to move sacred items and kami spirits from California to Washington. This merger created the biggest Shinto shrine on the US mainland with Barrish as the head priest.

The bigger shrine mixed Japanese tradition with American ideas.

Cold River Plunges Became His Daily Ritual for Decades

For over 30 years, Barrish started each day with misogi, jumping into the freezing Pilchuck River to purify himself. He did these cold-water rituals no matter the weather, even breaking ice in winter.

As head priest, he led ceremonies for thousands of visitors from across North America seeking blessings, marriages, or spiritual guidance.

He kept authentic Shinto practices while making them make sense to American visitors unfamiliar with Japanese traditions.

Aikido Classes Connected Body and Spirit at the Shrine

Barrish taught aikido on the shrine grounds, bringing his spiritual journey full circle. The martial art that first connected him to Shinto became a way for others to discover the faith.

He ran deep seminars on Shinto meditation and philosophy, helping students understand the spiritual roots of their physical practice.

As a Negi (senior priest), he performed traditional ceremonies while training new practitioners in both martial and spiritual arts.

Nearly 1,000 People Showed Up for New Year Celebrations

The shrine grew into a cultural bridge between Japan and America. Japanese-American community members and curious newcomers found a spiritual home at Tsubaki.

New Year celebrations brought crowds of almost 1,000 people each year for traditional ceremonies and blessings. Barrish worked with colleges and interfaith groups to help people understand Shinto beliefs.

He made ancient Japanese traditions easy for Americans to grasp while keeping their authentic spiritual core.

Scholars and Religious Leaders Took Notice of His Work

Barrish participated in the Parliament of World’s Religions and many interfaith talks as Shinto’s American representative. Documentary filmmakers and religious scholars featured his unique story in their work.

His success opened doors for other non-Japanese people interested in Shinto ordination.

Academic studies of American Shinto often cited his shrine as a case study in how ancient traditions can cross cultural boundaries while maintaining their spiritual integrity.

After Decades of Service, He Started a New Chapter

Barrish retired from Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in 2023 after dedicating most of his adult life to Shinto practice. The shrine relocated to Canada under new leadership following his departure.

Not quite ready to stop his spiritual work completely, Barrish established a smaller shrine and dojo in Florida where he continues teaching in a more limited capacity.

His decades of service left an indelible mark on American understanding of Shinto spirituality and proved that dedication could overcome even the most entrenched cultural barriers.

Visiting Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, Washington

Unfortunately, you can’t visit Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America anymore since it closed permanently in June 2023. The shrine at 17720 Crooked Mile Road in Granite Falls was where Rev. Lawrence Koichi Barrish made history as the first non-Japanese Shinto priest.

After he retired for health reasons, the sacred items moved to Shin Mei Spiritual Centre in Victoria, BC. A new Tsubaki North America branch now runs from Knapp Island near Victoria.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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