Ujikoiri - parishioner

Japanese: 氏子入り - うじこいり

To become a parishioner of the village's guardian deity (tutelary deity). In most cases, a newborn baby's first visit to the shrine is made when it is about one month old, and it is common for the baby to be made to cry and have ink applied to its forehead. In some places, parishioners can join again at the age of 7 or 15. Those who join at the age of 7 are considered to have been children of the god up until that point, and from that age they are recognized as human beings and become parishioners. Those who join at the age of 15 are recognized as adults after having their coming-of-age ceremony at that age. Bride and groom from other villages may also hold the parishioner ceremony immediately after their wedding.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

村の氏神 (鎮守) の氏子になること。多くは新生児が生後1ヵ月前後に初めて宮参りすることで，そのとき赤子を泣かせたり，額に墨をつけたりするのが一般的。また7歳，15歳であらためて氏子入りするところもある。7歳での氏子入りは，それまでを神の子と考え，この年から一人の人間と認めて氏子とするもの。 15歳で行うものは，この年に成人式をして一人前と認めることによる。なお，他村から来た嫁や婿が，結婚式の直後に氏子入りの儀礼をすることもある。

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