History Main / Miko

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'': Rei "Sailor Mars" Hino is a ''miko'' at her shrine, which amplifies her spiritual powers. Many of her attacks are Shinto-based, and in civilian form, she can drive off monsters with ''[=ofuda=]''. Sailor Moon's creator, Creator/NaokoTakeuchi, did ''miko'' work in a shrine as a youngster and used her experience as the basis for Rei's character, making this a case of WriteWhatYouKnow.
** In an episode of the ''R'' series, Minako and Makoto briefly work as miko to cover up for Rei when she's busy at the SchoolFestival. HilarityEnsues.

* Ruka Urushibara of ''SteinsGate'' is a subversion; he works at his family's shrine and dresses in the traditional manner, but [[DudeLooksLikeALady isn't a girl at all]]. [[spoiler:Double subverted when he's able to use time travel to cross into a world line where he is a girl; then triple subverted when the consequences of the timeline alterations require them to be undone.]]

(Not to be confused with ''that'' [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Miko.]] Or [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime that one.]] [[OverlyLongGag And]] [[YuGiOh confusing]] [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes it]] [[ThreateningShark with]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII any]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic form]] [[Franchise/MassEffect of]] {{Mako}} [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger is]] [[KillLaKill just]] [[LegendOfKorra stretching]] [[LampshadeHanging it]].)

(Not to be confused with ''that'' [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Miko.]] Or [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime that one.]] [[OverlyLongGag And confusing]] [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes it]] [[ThreateningShark with]] [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII any]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic form]] [[Franchise/MassEffect of]] {{Mako}} [[LampshadeHanging is just stretching it]].)

** The [[GoldenSun previous games]] have two mythological-based summons that carries this image [[Sadly Mythtaken (despite how inaccurate it is to the original)]], [[AztecMythology Coatlicue]] and [[TheOdyssey Ulysses]].

** The [[GoldenSun previous games]] have two summons that carries this image ([[Sadly Mythtaken despite how inaccurate it is to the original]]), [[AztecMythology Coatlicue]] and [[TheOdyssey Ulysses]].

* ''VisualNovel/YuminaTheEthereal'' gives us Youko and Tsukuyo Sakaue, with one that is a {{Seer}}.

A miko (巫女) is a shrine maiden in the UsefulNotes/{{Shinto}} religion. Given the strength of Shinto in Japan and the position shrine maidens hold in it, it is no surprise that they are a common character type in anime. Straight portrayals and dramatizations are used just as frequently as a priest or nun would be in North American or European media. If a main character, she might be [[MagicalGirl endowed with]] [[{{Onmyodo}} mystical powers]] in order to fight demons, hang {{Ofuda}} so that [[SealedEvilInACan she won't have to fight the demons in the first place]], receive visions, etc. Otherwise fictional and non-fictional Miko work in [[ShrinesAndTemples shrines]], often as an afterschool job. Their outfits traditionally consist of red ''hakama'' (trousers) or a long red skirt, and a white ''haori'' (kimono jacket).

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'': Rei "Sailor Mars" Hino is a ''miko'' at her shrine, which amplifies her spiritual powers. Many of her attacks are Shinto-based, and in civilian form, she can drive off monsters with ''ofuda''. Sailor Moon's creator, Creator/NaokoTakeuchi, did ''miko'' work in a shrine as a youngster and used her experience as the basis for Rei's character, making this a case of WriteWhatYouKnow.

* ''Manga/SilentMobius'': Yamigumo Nami, who wears her outfit instead of a uniform. She fights with holy water and ''ofuda'' but later acquires some more powerful weapons.

** Not to be confused with the final boss of ''Ten Desires'', whose ''name'' is Miko (the kanji for that name translating to "saint" rather than "shrine maiden.").
** Her name may also be interpreted as god's child or divine child.

** Not to be confused with the final boss of ''Ten Desires'', whose ''name'' is Miko (the kanji for that name translating to "saint" rather than "shrine maiden.").

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' - Reimu Hakurei and Sanae Kochiya, both of whom wear somewhat non-traditional, heavily customized miko outfits; while Reimu's outfit at least keeps the traditional red and white color scheme, Sanae wears ''blue'' and white.

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'': Rei Hino is a ''miko'' at her shrine, which amplifies her spiritual powers. Many of her attacks are Shinto-based, and in civilian form, she can drive off monsters with ''ofuda''. Sailor Moon's creator, Creator/NaokoTakeuchi, did ''miko'' work in a shrine as a youngster and used her experience as the basis for Rei's character, making this a case of WriteWhatYouKnow.

* ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'': Kaho Mizuki

* ''Manga/AsagiriNoMiko''

* Arashi Kishuu in ''Manga/{{X1999}}''. Technically, Yuzuriha Nekoi is supposed to become a miko as well, but her grandmother preferred to send her away to school and to fulfill her destiny as a Dragon of Heaven.

* Miko are all over ''Manga/InuYasha'' in both major and supporting roles, particularly Kikyou, her sister Kaede (also leader of her village), and Midoriko, the "creator" of the Shikon No Tama; Kagome, although not really identified as a miko prior to people in the Sengoku era simply jumping to conclusions, also has many of the powers of a miko, apparently as a result of being Kikyou's reincarnation. There's also an ''evil'' miko, Tsubaki, who started as a normal one [[RivalTurnedEvil but was driven to evil]] over her jealousy against Kikyou.
** Kagome's family does run what appears to be a traditional Shinto Shrine however.

* The epitome of Mikos in the MagicalGirl world: Miaka and Yui from ''Manga/FushigiYuugi''.

* Horribly subverted in ''Manga/MiraiNikki'', as the Miko we meet (Tsubaki Kasugano) is not only one of the Diary Holders, but a member [[spoiler:and prisoner/sex toy]] of a ReligionOfEvil. [[spoiler:In an AlternateUniverse, though, Tsubaki ''is'' the real deal as well as TheMessiah.]]

* An obscure little anime called ''Shrine of the Morning Mist'' featured several miko who were sisters and classmates, and a fair amount of the plot revolved around said shrine. An early episode featured the girls getting initiated as priestesses, with cold water baths and other rites. They also battled demons and stuff in later episodes.

* Mizuki Rashojin from the second ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' is a rare [[SinisterMinister villainous]] Miko, who uses her ''gohei'' as a [[AbsurdlySharpBlade sharp]] weapon and has a demonic CanineCompanion to assist in the fight. [[spoiler:However if you manage to beat her with Kyoshiro, instead of killing her it turns out that Kyoshiro had in fact exorcised her from her host Bizuki, who fell victim to DemonicPossession that took place when a purification ritual she performed didn't go as planned.]]

* Itsuki in ''VisualNovel/{{Suika}}'', though eventually she realizes that there's no way she could be since she doesn't do the rituals and doesn't remember becoming one.

** Except they're not magical girls.

* Furude Rika in ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' is a shrine maiden for a slightly peculiar branch of shinto that includes simulated disembowelment and cannibalism in its ceremonies.

* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' - Rika [[spoiler:and Hanyuu]].

* Though not being called miko per se, the ''VideoGame/FatalFrame'' series have Shrine Maidens with similar, albeit [[DarkerAndEdgier darker]] roles. From the first game there were the Rope Shrine Maidens [[spoiler:chosen to be [[HumanSacrifice sacrificed]], in a rather atrocious way, in order to prevent the ''HellGate'' from opening]], the second had the [[CreepyTwins Twin]] Shrine Maidens [[spoiler:one of them was supposed to sacrifice the other to, guess what, prevent the hell gate from opening]], the third had [[FourIsDeath four]] Handmaidens, also known as Pacifiers in Europe and Japan, that wore full miko attires and performed daily shrine and housekeeping activities, as well as helping [[spoiler:and impaling]] the Tattooed Priestess, another Shrine Maiden [[spoiler:chosen because they experienced the pain of losing a loved one and had the pain of others tattooed in their skins and sacrificed to prevent the Rift, an infernal force, from spilling into the dreams of the living]] and finally in the fourth game there were the Kanade and the Utsuwa who performed the Rougetsu Kagura ritual to worship the [[TotalEclipseOfThePlot lunar eclipse]] [[spoiler:and summon the gate to the other world so that the souls of the deceased could pass on, of course, things go terribly wrong and the ritual fails.]]
** The fourth game also includes the Tsukimori Shrine Maidens.

(Not to be confused with ''that'' [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Miko.]] Or [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime that one.]] [[OverlyLongGag And confusing]] [[CityOfVillains it]] [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks with]] [[FinalFantasyVII any]] [[StarWarsTheOldRepublic form]] [[Franchise/MassEffect of]] {{Mako}} [[LampshadeHanging is just stretching it]].)

(Not to be confused with ''that'' [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Miko.]] Or [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime that one.]] [[OverlyLongGag And confusing]] [[CityOfVillains it]] [[EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks with]] [[FinalFantasyVII any]] [[StarWarsTheOldRepublic form]] [[MassEffect of]] {{Mako}} [[LampshadeHanging is just stretching it]].)

* Miko-chan of ''Manga/OsatukeMikoMikoChan'' is a MagicalGirl based off of shrine maidens. She is a {{Mascot}} for the Mikoshiba shrine more than anything else, helping [[TheMerch sell official merchandise of herself]] to keep the place afloat.

A miko (巫女) is a shrine maiden in the UsefulNotes/{{Shinto}} religion. Given the strength of Shinto in Japan and the position shrine maidens hold in it, it is no surprise that they are a common character type in anime. Straight portrayals and dramatizations are used just as frequently as a priest or nun would be in North American or European media. If a main character, she might be [[MagicalGirl endowed with]] [[{{Onmyodo}} mystical powers]] in order to fight demons, hang {{Ofuda}} so that [[SealedEvilInACan she won't have to fight the demons in the first place]], receive visions, etc. Otherwise fictional and non-fictional Miko work in [[ShrinesAndTemples shrines]], often as an afterschool job.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' - Reimu Hakurei and Sanae Kochiya, both of whom wear somewhat non-traditional, heavily customized miko outfits.

* Ruka Urushibara is a subversion; he works at his family's shrine and dresses in the traditional manner, but [[DudeLooksLikeALady isn't a girl at all]]. [[spoiler:Double subverted when he's able to use time travel to cross into a world line where he is a girl; then triple subverted when the consequences of the timeline alterations require them to be undone.]]