Nūkwo

Nūkwo or Noko (Shirakawan: 祝子) are and  in Shirakawan Jindo. Nūkwo act as, perform rituals and ceremonies, organise Jindo festivals, and deliver offerings to the kamui. They are also traditionally important figures in local communities; the most important role of a village nūkwo historically was to act as the guardian of the communal village hearth, from which all new households lit their own hearth - in the present day, this ceremony is continued in Jindo weddings, and is now largely symbolic.

At the higher levels are the Kohu-Nūkwo (国祝子), or 'State Nūkwo', employed by the Department of Divinities to manage national rituals & festivals, and tend to sacred sites of the Chiseian royal family. The Kihueru Wokimi (聞得大君) is the highest of all nūkwo, and performs rituals within the Royal court.

Training
Nūkwo are generally female; however Nūdamu are male-born persons who undergo rituals (traditionally castration, though this is no longer mandated) and adopt female dress and mannerisms to become nūkwo; they are treated identically to and perform the same roles as other priestesses, though their specific identities may differ. Nūdamu form some 10% of nūkwo. The association of women with shamanic ability and spiritual power is a feature common to most Yashimic religions, and is also seen in michi.

Candidates for nūkwo training were traditionally picked out at a young age, and were expected to show some potential. Several characteristics could be seen as a sign a person was called towards shamanism: neurosis, hallucinations, unusual behavior and hysteria. These conditions are still referred to as ‘shamanistic sicknesses’, though requirements for induction into priesthood are today much looser.

Initiates are trained as apprentices to elder nūkwo, and go through intensive training supposedly intended to sharpen and strengthen their spiritual ability. This is done by rituals including washings with cold water, regular purifying, abstinence and the observation of the common taboos like death, illness and blood. Initiates also study how to communicate with kami and spirits of the deceased, as mediums, by being possessed by those spirits. This is believed to be achieved by chanting and dancing, thus therefore initiates are taught melodies and intonations that are used in songs, prayers and magical formulas, supported by drum and rattlers.

Historically most nūkwo were considered 'married' to the kamui they served, and were expected to be celibate, but this practice began to loosen in the 18th century, with many priestesses now practicing only temporary or partial celibacy.

Nūkwo, Jinshiki and Kashi
Unlike miko in michi, the nūkwo do not own or maintain shrines, they simply carry out rituals and ceremonies and tend to the kamui enshrined within. All registered religious sites are physically owned and operated by jinshiki, who are shrine officials in charge of the administrative aspects and maintenance of shrines and utake (holy sites). While many nūkwo work within shrines alongside the jinshiki, some are independent and travel around performing ceremonies at small shrines and communities that lack a resident nūkwo.

Depending on sect, the duties of nūkwo and jinshiki may overlap or be combined, especially when the jinshiki of a shrine is a woman. Other sects more strictly seperate the two roles. As far as the state religion is concerned, the Department of Divinities does not restrict jinshiki appointments to any gender, though 72% are male.

A third class of priesthood are the Kashi, or household priests. They are servants traditionally employed by wealthy families to perform simple rituals and give offerings to tutelary spirits and ancestors of the household.