Itako (shamanism)
Itako ( Jap. イタコ ) is the name for blind female shamans in the region Tohoku in Japan . With the help of a ritual called Kuchiyose ( 口 寄 せ , dt. "Mouth summoning") the spirits of the dead, the Ikiryō (souls of the living who have left their bodies), the Kami of Shintō and Buddhism , etc., are summoned and received in their own body thereby given them a voice. Itako are mostly associated with certain temples or shrines , but not explicitly assigned to any religion.
Every year between July 20th and 24th during Osore-zan - Taisai in Mutsu in Itako-machi ("Itako Quarter"), many Itako come together in tents and offer their services.