Tag: MIKO
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Amenouzume: The Goddess Who Danced the Sun Back to Life
Why I Chose This Story Among the countless tales in Japanese mythology, the story of Amenouzume holds a special place for me. She is not a warrior who defeats enemies with supernatural strength. She is not a sage who outwits demons through cunning. She is a dancer—and through dance alone, she saved the entire world…
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What Is a Miko? Japan’s Shrine Maidens as Mediums, Ritualists, and Keepers of the Sacred
Introduction: Japan’s Shrine Maidens and the Legacy of Sacred Mediation For many visitors to Japan, miko appear as striking figures in red hakama and white robes, assisting at Shinto shrines during festivals and New Year rituals. But behind this elegant, almost iconic image lies a far older and more intricate story—one that reaches back to:…