In Okinawa Prefecture and its surrounding area, where different historical circumstances existed than in Japan's home islands, a religious vocation called "noro" has existed since even before the foundation of the Ryukyu kingdom, and still exists today.
日本本土と異なる歴史背景を持つ沖縄県周辺では、祝女（ノロ）という神職が、琉球王国時代以前から現代まで存続している。