At Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Japan there is the sacred rice field where rice is grown and is offered at Ise Jinguu [Main shrine of Amaterasu-OmiKami (Kami of Sun), apex of Japans 80,000 Shinto Shrines]. During the Otauesai (special ritual of rice planting) a kind of Gohei (antennae/wand) is placed at each corner of the sacred field. This sacred Gohei is called Imigushi (stick to avoid bad-thing).

Goasaijin (main Kami) of Tsubaki Grand Shrine and its US Branch Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America is SARUTAHIKO-NO-O-KAMI who is in charge of all things on the Earth (everything inside the atmosphere) as the ancestor Kami of all Earthly Kami and carries the great mission to teach mankind and lead/guide us into balance with Divine Nature. When we see the image of Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami he is always carrying the Hoko (spear) representing his protective power. Originally, Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami carried the stick/staff. This stick is the origin of Imigushi as Sarutahiko-no-O-Kami as Kokudo-no-O-Kami brought mankind the secret of rice cultivation (prosperity/coexistence) and showed mankind how to make the sacred rice field.

KOTOTAMA (WORD SOUL) MEANING OF SARUTAHIKO-NO-O-KAMI

Kototama means life power of sounds/words.

SA= piercing power and element of thunder
RU= whirling power and element of Earth
TA= emitting power (1st syllable of Takaamahara) and element of Heaven
HI= developing power (HI means Sun) and element of Fire
KO= scratching power and element of wind

Yamamoto Yukiyasu Guji (97th High Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine) explains:

SA from Sawake to divide, to differentiate.

(Human beings cooperate with Kamisamas power to grow the sacred plants we eat to sustain our lives).

RU from Ruten to protect (every thing on Earth/at all times) to lead MAMORU MICHIBIKI.

TA Earth/ Rice Field.

HI Sunshine (divine solar power).

KO as Taiyo (Sun). "no KO" means Child of the Sun.

SARUTAHIKO-NO-O-KAMI cannot produce anything by himself. Equally important is the Divine Female Power of AMENOUZUME-NO-MIKOTO in all things we need the balance of IN/YO (yin/yang, uchiki/sotoki).

The plan for all things in Nature (including human beings) was made by AMATERASU OMIKAMI (Kami of Sun, Taiyo-source of life, leader of Ten-no-Kami [Heavenly Kami]), but the mission to supply the actual guidance is entrusted to SARUTAHIKO-NO-O-KAMI.

Basic of human life is to eat. The natural balance (Yin-Yang) is to balance of production and consumption and include thought for the future (sustainability). It is natural to want to leave the world better than we found for successive generations. When we observe our current world situation the lack of balance is painfully obvious, Shinto teaches us simply: to disrespect Great Nature is to invite disaster. As caring people in the current world we must:

Do our utmost each day.

Be grateful each day (to Heaven and Earth and people and things that support us each day - all things in Great Nature.

This is the teaching of SARUTAHIKO-NO-OKAMI.