Aruki Miko, Shamanistic Shrine Maidens, or Shinobi (Ninja) Operatives?

Were They The Spies of Takeda Shingen?

Aruki Miko, also known as Nonou, were shamanistic shrine maidens who travelled the country in groups of six, led by a male “minder”, administering to the populace, speaking to the dead, offering council and communing with the gods. They held a unique position within Japan’s closed societies, and they had permission to travel freely when most could not. 

These female shamans who were not associated with any particular shrine, temple or sect performed various religious services across Japan. They are also believed to have been spies, a type of female ninja known as a kunoichi in the employ of the warlord Takeda Shingen, who is said to have organised quite an intricate spy network. A remaining document supposedly issued by Takeda Shingen orders the creation of an Aruki Miko training facility be established within the Takeda lands, although the authenticity of this document is currently being questioned.  Nagano Prefecture’s Netsu region, located between Ueda and Komoro castles became famed for its recruitment of Edo period (1603-1868) Aruki Miko maidens.  During their pilgrimages, the Aruki Miko are believed to have collated and filed intelligence reports regarding the places they went on their travels, and the people they would meet, including often attending gatherings or offering shamanistic services for various high ranked personages... the perfect way to gather intelligence.