This could have been a fangirl’s dream come true.
A Shinto shrine caused a stir on Twitter when a passerby happened to notice a sign that appeared to be advertising a job opening for a….male shrine maiden???
Shrines often hire part-time sales assistants and groundskeepers for the New Year’s season, since most people in Japan visit in the first few days of the new year to wish for good luck and buy good luck charms. It’s not so typical, however, to hire male shrine maidens!
That’s why Twitter user @BclassPpai had to share it when they found the announcement at Koura Grand Shrine in Fukuoka, Kyushu. Printed on a large poster on the shrine grounds was an advertisement that caused the hearts of Yaoi and otoko no ko (cross-dressing) fangirls everywhere to explode with squees:
https://twitter.com/BclassPpai/status/929899493478166528“Koura Grand Shrine
is now recruiting
seasonal part-time shrine maiden(s)
male staff”
With the way the sign is worded and the distinct lack of clarifying punctuation, many readers assumed the shrine is looking for a cross-dressing male shrine maidens (“shrine lads”? “shrine boys”?). What with shrines indulging anime fans with moe-style shrine maiden phone accessories, it’s not so far-fetched to think this could be the logical next step.
Some netizens were perplexed while others were excited:
“What would a man look like in shrine maiden clothes?”
“Where is this? I wanna go!”
“…I totally thought they were looking for cross-dressers….”
Of course, some of the more logical members of the internet (who are always ruining everyone’s fun) were quick to point out that the ad was likely searching for shrine maidens AND male part-time workers, and another netizen even went so far as to find the official post on the shrine’s webpage, which advertises for two separate positions.
Otoko no ko fans are disappointed that they won’t be seeing any guys dressed up in miko clothes this year, but they now have the idea in their heads, so they’ll be looking forward to future developments. In any case, those who would’ve liked to try it out can at least see how they would look in the priestess garb with this comfy priestess room-wear, and if you’re REALLY serious about it you can try out this lovely shrine maiden-inspired bathing suit as well.
Source: Hachima Kiko
Image source: Japan National Tourism Organization
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