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Eighth, it is deeply to be regretted that to the exclusion of the Imbe Family the Nakatomi Family alone enjoys the privilege of being entrusted with the hierarchic functions of the Greater Shrines throughout Japan.
Ninth, the time-honoured “Mitama-Shizume-no-Matsuri” (“Chinkonsai”) or “Spirit-quieting Ceremony for the Emperor’s Sake (136)” dates to the inspired Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, so it is the hereditary right of her descendants alone to hold the office of diviner, i.e., a mediator standing between Sovereign and Deity, but now, the same right is frequently given to members of other families. Is this not a matter for serious regret?
Tenth, in preparing the fine offerings for the divine service the chieftain of the Imbe Family should be entrusted with the charge of making them up as formerly, and lead all the other families to whom their hereditary callings were respectively allotted. Hence, among those serving in the Shinto Bureau there should be officials related to such families, such as the Nakatomi, the Imbe, the Sarume, the Kagamitsukuri, the Tamatsukuri, the Tatenui, the Kanhatori, the Shizuri, the Omi, etc., and yet, in the existing state of things, we do not find many in the same Bureau, except the Nakatomi, the Imbe, and some few others. Those families unrelated to the Nakatomi and the Imbe are not admitted into the service of the Shinto Bureau. Thus all the descendants not excepting even those of divine origin (137), have been reduced to poor and miserable circumstances, and are greatly decreasing in number. Is this not a cause for deep regret?
Eleventh, and lastly, in the 9th year of Shoho (138), the
