noun
noro; hereditary female medium
A hereditary female ritual specialist in Okinawan religion, serving as a medium and community priestess. The term is specific to Okinawan culture and not used in mainland Japan.
沖縄の集落では、祝女が祭祀を取り仕切っていた。
In Okinawan villages, the noro presided over religious ceremonies.
祝女の役割は母から娘へと受け継がれた。
The role of the noro was passed down from mother to daughter.
The word のろ is of Ryukyuan origin, referring to a traditional female religious functionary. The kanji 祝女, 巫女, and 神女 are jukujikun (meaning-based readings) applied to this native term.