kannushi

Shintō priest

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

A kannushi is a priest in Japan's Shintō religion. The primary role of a kannushi is to conduct shrine ceremonies on behalf of worshippers, ensuring a good relationship between the kami (gods or sacred powers) and the people. This involves making offerings and mediating blessings from the deities. While traditionally a kannushi was a head priest who served as a medium for a deity, the term is now often used interchangeably with shinshoku, another word for a Shintō priest. Priests can be married, and women can also serve as priests. They are supported by offerings from worshippers.1

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shinshoku
…for the Shintō priest is kannushi, which traditionally referred only to a head priest who, through the observance of purificatory practices, had become qualified to serve as a medium for a deity.
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…for the Shintō priest is kannushi, which traditionally referred only to a head priest who, through the observance of purificatory practices, had become qualified to serve as a medium for a deity.
Read More