Miko is a variant of Mikko, a name of Finnish origin meaning 'who is like God?'. In Japanese culture, a miko (巫女) refers to a shrine maiden, a young priestess who serves at a Shinto shrine. Historically, mikos were seen as shamans, but in modern times, they are recognized as an institutionalized role within daily life, trained to perform various sacred tasks, including cleansing rituals and the sacred Kagura dance.