[Overview] Hikami Shrine, a shrine dating back to the Kofun period, is located near the summit of a small mountain (Hikami-yama) in the Nara Basin. This is an artistic photograph capturing the beautiful movements of three Shinto priests—Kaori, Haruka, and Miyuki—during the evening offering ceremony just after sunset in autumn.
[Kaori]
The chief priestess and head priest of the main deity, Himiko. 18 years old, slim and with a stunning actress-like figure, 168 cm tall. She is the ace of her university road bike team. Because she rides road bikes, she has long, slender legs for a cyclist.
[Haruka]
The assistant priestess and shrine maiden of the main deity, Himiko. 22 years old, 163 cm tall. While maintaining her femininity, she has a toned, slightly muscular physique, having been a member of the swimming club.
[Miyuki]
The assistant priestess and shrine maiden of the main deity, Himiko. 21 years old, 161 cm tall. While maintaining her femininity, she has a slim and toned physique. She possesses a captivating voice, enough to be the lead singer of a band.
[Shrine Maiden Attire]
- Kimono: Thin white silk, tucked into hakama
- Hakama: Thin crimson silk
- Footwear: White tabi socks, white zori sandals
- Hairstyle: Smooth black hair, with bangs, cut evenly and reaching to the waist. The entire hair is tied once at the middle of the back with a red ribbon.
[Scene]
The three girls are lined up in a row in front of the shrine's main hall, facing the altar set up to the sanctuary. Kaori has a generous portion of simmered curry in a metal sauce pot (gravy boat), and a glass of water and a water pitcher are placed together on a sanbo (a type of offering stand) lined with washi paper. Haruka has a light serving of rice on a curry plate with a spoon, and Miyuki has a salad, dressing, and a fork on the same sanbo. They are lined up from left to right facing the sanctuary, with Miyuki, Kaori, and Haruka holding their offerings. The sanbo are all the same size, and all three are holding them at exactly the same height.
[Background] The grounds of the mountaintop of the Hinokami Shrine are surprisingly spacious as darkness falls. There are warm-colored LED lights inside the lanterns. In the distance, you can see the place for offering votive slips and votive tablets, and to the left and further back, a rest area building. Many local worshippers still watch the beautiful offering ceremony from a distance.
[Lighting]
The main hall has many warm-colored LED spotlights directed towards the altar, but this is supplemented by reflected light from the camera.
[Camera]
An artistic photograph carefully capturing the delicious-looking offerings and the beauty of the priests' movements as they are presented, taken from a diagonal angle in front of the three people on the shrine side, using a standard lens at eye level.
