Guji (Chief Priest)

A guji is the chief priest of a Shinto shrine, serving as the highest-ranking clergy member and bearing ultimate responsibility for the shrine's religious ceremonies, administration, and maintenance. The guji oversees all rituals, manages the shrine's staff, and represents the shrine in dealings with Jinja Honcho and the broader community.

At many smaller shrines, the guji may be the only full-time priest, handling everything from daily offerings to major festivals. At larger shrines, the guji leads a staff that may include gon-guji (associate chief priests), negi (senior priests), gon-negi (associate senior priests), and various other ritual and administrative personnel.

Historically, many shrine priesthoods were hereditary, with guji positions passed from father to son within specific families (shake — priestly lineages). While hereditary succession still occurs, particularly at important and independent shrines, Jinja Honcho now requires formal training and qualification. Prospective priests typically study at Kokugakuin University in Tokyo or Kogakkan University in Ise, the two institutions authorized to grant Shinto priesthood qualifications.