Kioshi’s reference is the Miko A miko, or shrine maiden, is a young priestess who works at a Shinto shrine. Miko were once likely seen as shamans, but are understood in modern Japanese culture to be an institutionalized role in daily life, trained to perform tasks, ranging from sacred cleansing to performing the sacred Kagura dance. The traditional attire of a miko is a pair of red hakama (divided, pleated trousers), a white kosode (a predecessor of the kimono), and some white or red hair ribbons. In Shinto, the color white symbolizes purity. The garment put over the kosode during Kagura dances is called a chihaya. Traditional miko tools include the Azusa Yumi ("catalpa bow"), the tamagushi (offertory sakaki-tree branches), and the gehōbako (a "supernatural box that contains dolls, animal and human skulls, shinto prayer beads"). Miko also uses bells, drums, candles, gohei, and bowls of rice in ceremonies. In literature, manga and anime describing medieval Japan, miko are usually depicted as characters protecting people from evil spirits, demons and ghosts. In such stories, miko usually possess some kind of martial art, usually with the use of traditional Japanese weapons (usually a bow or sword), and also use magic, most often o-fuda.