The first edition of Himiko – From Sorrow to Awakening was published in July 2013, followed by a revised edition in September 2016.
What is presented here is the revised 2016 edition.
In May 2016, a seminar was held in Kashihara with the central themes of "Himiko" and "miko (shrine maidens)," encouraging participants to turn inward and reflect on their hearts. For the revised edition, reflections from those who attended the seminar were added.
While the printed book includes contributions from 75 individuals, here we have selected 20 to share, carefully chosen to avoid overlap and to highlight diverse perspectives.
This book is centered around Kayo Shiokawa's essay Himiko – From Sorrow to Awakening, and also features reflections and personal writings by seminar participants.
Additionally, historical context is provided to shed light on the time period that forms the foundation of these thoughts, supplemented by my own interpretation.
In the introductory section, we have also included a brief explanation of shrine maidens and shamans, to help readers visualize their roles more clearly.
While such details might not typically be necessary in a publication intended for an internal audience, we have included them here in the hope that they will offer insight into the era, the lives of the shrine maidens, and the deep emotional shadows carried by Himiko and others.
This inclusion was also encouraged by Mr. Tomekichi Taike at the time of the first edition's publication in July 2013.