====== Religion ====== 
Nishihara was founded in 1874 by people who migrated from the islands of Ikema and Sarahama in the northern region of the Miyako islands. After Nishihara was founded, the deities of //Uparuzi//, the largest sacred area in Ikema, have continued to be worshipped as //uparuzi utaki//. Also, the communal rituals of //yuukui// and //myaakuzici// were preserved. In Nishihara, the major communal rituals of the nanamui, especially //uparuzi utaki//, are performed at ten //utaki// and public halls.

As mentioned above, in Nishihara there is a group of communal rituals known as the //nanamui//. When people born or living in Nishihara reach a certain age, it is their duty to participate in the //nanamui//. The //nanamui// has recently been considered in terms of a school, with participation known as “entrance”, completion of duties known as “graduation”, new members as “new students” and people who have left the ritual as “graduates”. As a general rule, women first participate when they reach 46 years of age, and graduate at 55. In the ten years until graduation, they are known as //nanamui nu nma// and perform the communal rituals.

 From the ranks of the priestesses, a special lottery known as kamikuji is drawn to determine the //uhu nma//, the overall leader; the //aagusu nma//, the woman who specializes in the divine arts to be inspired from deity; the //nakabai//, who takes care of the offerings; the //uhu nma nu tumu//, an assistant to the //uhu nma//; and the //aagusu nma nu tumu//, an assistant to the //aagusu nma//. These five women are called the //hana nu nma//. Each year, the //nakabai//, //agusu nma nu tumu//, and //uhu nma nu tumu// are chosen from among the new students. This means that at least three new students must join each year.

 Men first participate at age 50 and graduate at age 56. The men who join the //nanamui// are usually known as //nigaiuya//. Their ranks are determined by age. The term that men serve lasts seven years. They join only six communal rituals each year, their main role being to drink sake at the utaki during rituals in which women are the central participants. However, men play more central roles in some rituals. There is also a woman called //hyuui turya//, who decides the dates of the rituals.

 The communal rituals of Nishihara, usually known as //kannigai//, are performed mainly by the //nanamui nu nma// over 45 times per year. There are many varieties of communal rituals of the //nanamui//, including prayers for a bountiful harvest of millet, potatoes, and wheat, and agricultural rites to drive off insects, ceremonies for schools to pray for the health and safety of students, and rituals to ward off bad luck. The main duty of the priestess is to bring offerings of sake, rice, mochi (rice cakes) or octopus to the deities of the //utaki//, to sing the holy songs known as //kamiuta//, to light sacred incense, and to pray for the health and happiness of the villagers over a period of ten years.

 People born and raised in Nishihara go through the //masumui// to have themselves registered with the deities in the //utaki//. After that, during the //naanushi// they select their personal guardian deity. Houses have the //hinu-kan// and deity of the toko, and are further protected by their ancestors through the //kantana//. Also, in addition to the guardian deity of mau, just outside of each house are the deities of the utaki. In this way, the people of Nishihara have relationships with multiple deities, and live their lives based on their beliefs. (by Meari Hirai)