NORITO are religious statements addressed to the deities (kami) in Shintō rituals. They usually follow upon a one- to three-day purification rite, at the conclusion of which the kami are invited by the Shintō priests to be present at the ceremony. A norito generally contains the following elements: (1) words of praise to the kami, (2) an explanation of the origin of, or reasons for, this particular ritual or festival, (3) entertainment for the kami, (4) expressions of gratitude for protection and favor given, and (5) prayers for the successful completion of the matter at hand. Norito are composed in the classical language, and contain expressions of great beauty; they are usually written exclusively in Chinese characters, some of which have merely a phonetic function. The rhythm produced by the peculiar word arrangement, which involves many pairs of expressions and sets of words to modify the same object, is intended to pacify both...