Negi (Senior Priest)

A negi is a senior priest at a Shinto shrine, ranking below the guji (chief priest) and gon-guji (associate chief priest) in the shrine's clerical hierarchy. The negi assists in conducting rituals, managing shrine affairs, and often takes the lead in day-to-day ceremonial functions.

The word 'negi' is ancient, appearing in early Japanese texts, and originally meant something like 'one who prays' or 'one who calms (the gods).' The role predates the modern shrine organizational structure and was historically one of the primary designations for shrine priests.

At larger shrines, there may be multiple negi and gon-negi (associate negi), creating a layered hierarchy of ritual responsibility. At mid-sized shrines, the negi may be the guji's primary assistant, handling many of the ceremonies that worshippers experience directly — blessings for new babies, purification of new cars, wedding ceremonies, and the like.