What is a Shinto priest called?

When Japanese people see someone wearing traditional white robes and performing rituals or prayers at a shrine, they will often casually refer to that person as a kannushi-san, or “Shinto priest.”

The more formal general term is shinshoku (神職). This refers broadly to people who serve at Shinto shrines and perform religious ceremonies, prayers, and other rites. In English, Shinto priest is usually the closest equivalent.

The word guji (宮司) has a more specific meaning.

In everyday Japanese, kannushi is a common way to refer to someone who performs religious duties at a shrine. Guji, however, is a particular position: the shinshoku who heads and represents a specific shrine. A large shrine may have several Shinto priests, so not every shinshoku working there is the guji.

Japanese people do not always make these distinctions carefully in ordinary conversation.

This is especially true at small shrines in rural areas, where there may be only one or very few priests. Local residents often already know who “the person from the shrine” is. If that person is the guji, people may naturally call him or her guji-san. The very same person may also be referred to as kannushi-san in another conversation.

So although the terms have different meanings, they can overlap in everyday speech.

Many Japanese people would probably have trouble giving a precise explanation if suddenly asked, “What exactly is the difference between a kannushi and a guji?” Still, kannushi-san immediately brings to mind someone who performs Shinto rituals, while guji-san tends to suggest the person who represents a particular shrine.

You may also see miko (巫女) working at shrines. Miko is a different role and title, even though shrine visitors may see them assisting with ceremonies and other shrine duties.

The simplest way to remember the terms is this: shinshoku is the formal general term, kannushi-san is the common everyday expression, and guji is the shinshoku who heads a particular shrine.

Contents