Spiritual Shifts: Women In Spirituality

Men dominated the spiritual realm in Japan, with women often limited to supporting roles or deemed impure in certain religious practices. However, over the centuries, this dynamic has shifted dramatically. Women have moved from the periphery to the forefront in many spiritual communities, increasingly recognized as priests, leaders, and spiritual guides.

In Shinto, Japan’s indigenous spirituality, women priests, known as “Miko,” have gained prominence for their roles in rituals and ceremonies, symbolizing purity and connection to the divine. These changes are not just about gender equity but also a return to some early spiritual practices where women held significant religious roles.