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Walk through any neighborhood in Japan, and before too long you'll come across a shrine devoted to Shinto, the native religion of the country. Many visitors to Japan are charmed by the peaceful, relaxing atmosphere and stunning architecture of these shrines, as well as the traditionally-garbed priests and shrine maidens who help run them. Fewer, though, are familiar with the exact traditions of these shrines and the duties performed by the priests and maidens. Those shrine duties and the history behind them are the subject of this edition of Japanology Plus.
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