Photo= Students receive "Miko" training at Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine

On December 6, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, held an orientation meeting for "Miko," or shrine attendants, who will assist with receiving visitors who make a New Year's visit to the shrine for blessings and with the bestowal of good-luck charms. The participants dressed in scarlet "Hakama," or a Japanese divided skirt, learned the appropriate attitude and manners for welcoming visitors to the shrine.

This shrine, which worships a deity of academic achievement, has approximately 600,000 visitors during the first three days of the New Year. There were many applications due to the Miko costume’s popularity and 80 people were selected from 120 university students who applied.

The students participated in a purification rite, pledged their service to the deity, and listened to an explanation of talismans, etc. at the main hall. A shrine administrator called the "Negi," said to them, "As a shrine located in a city that is a tourist destination, we have had an increase in visitors from overseas. We want all of you to respond to visitors in a cordial manner."