In Shinto, formal prayers or ritual words addressed to the kami are called norito.
Norito are recited by shrine priests during ceremonies and traditionally present praise, requests, offerings, and statements of ritual purpose. Their language is often formal and archaic, reflecting the long history of Japanese court and shrine traditions.
The Engishiki, a tenth-century compilation of Japanese laws and procedures, preserves several famous norito. These texts provide important evidence for the vocabulary and ceremonial practices of early Shinto, although modern shrine prayers may follow newer forms.
Norito should not be confused with misogi, which is a purification practice, or ema, which are small wooden plaques on which worshippers write prayers or wishes. A norito is spoken or chanted as part of a formal rite, usually by a ritual specialist rather than privately written by a visitor.