Priest

===Shinto===
{{More citations needed|date=February 2012}}
[[File:Yasaka-jinja 01.jpg|thumb|alt=Shinto priest and priestess in Japan.|[[Shinto]] priest and priestess in Japan]]
The Shinto priest is called a ''{{nihongo|[[kannushi]]''|神主||lit. "Master of the [[kami]]"}}, originally pronounced ''kamunushi'', sometimes referred to as a {{nihongo|''shinshoku''|神職||}}. A kannushi is the person responsible for the maintenance of a Shinto shrine, or ''[[Shinto shrine|jinja]]'', purificatory rites, and for leading worship and veneration of a certain ''kami''. Additionally, ''kannushi'' are aided by another priest class, ''{{nihongo|[[miko]]''|巫女||"shrine maidens"}}, for many rites. The maidens may either be family members in training, apprentices, or local volunteers.

''[[Saiin (priestess)|Saiin]]'' were female relatives of the Japanese emperor (termed ''saiō'') who served as High Priestesses in [[Kamo Shrine]]. ''Saiō'' also served at [[Ise Grand Shrine|Ise Shrine]]. ''Saiin'' priestesses usually were elected from royalty. In principle, ''Saiin'' remained unmarried, but there were exceptions. Some ''Saiin'' became [[Queen consort|consort]]s of the emperor, called ''Nyōgo'' in Japanese. The ''Saiin'' order of priestesses existed throughout the Heian and Kamakura periods.