Scoring a job as a miko (巫女, shrine maiden) for the New Year’s rush is highly coveted among upper-grade high school and college students; not only does the position add prestige, it also supplements the otoshidama (お年玉、New Year’s cash gift - which, at their age, tends to fall off precipitously, if not in amount, in accordance with need). Here, Kumanichi reports on young women attending an orientation at Kato Shrine, learning how to don their hakama. One woman was quoted as saying, “The traditional dress awakened me to the solemn atmosphere.”
Scoring a job as a miko (巫女, shrine maiden) for the New Year's rush is highly co…
