Japanese Norito - Shinto Prayers

Shinto is the indigenous faith of Japanese people. An ancient religion, with no founder, doctrines or dogmas, it evolves through a sense of awe and gratitude toward the nature world and is expressed through myth and ritual. In a Shinto ceremony, a prayer called norito is recited by a chief or presiding Shinto priest. Shinto prayers usually open with words in praise of the kami, make some reference to the origin possibly the history of festival, enumerate the offering presented, express the thanksgiving, report to or petition the kami and finally close with some words of respect and awe.