~ Shinsei Seinaru Monastery Application ~
Out of Character
Information:
IGN (In-Game Name):
Literally2Elite
What is your discord username?:
literallyelite
What is your timezone?:
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Do you have a microphone?:
Yes, I have a microphone and will be able to communicate with other members within the faction incase it is needed for any important meetings and events being held.
Describe your activity on the server:
Regarding my activity overall on the server up until the present day (rating-wise), I think I'd give it a solid 7/10 judging from how frequently I’ve had time to play on Roleplay Hub over this year and to this very day. For some explanation, I've been playing on SRP for about 2-3 years or so by now, with there having been several periods in time where I haven't had much incentive to come online due to either having real-life responsibilities, dealing with mental health, or simply not getting much out of my time while playing on any original character of mine (besides from formerly being a part for the sports faction and having some periodic or situational conversations/relationship building scenarios with people).
But despite all this, I would still consider myself a fairly active player on the server especially when any character of mine has a role to fulfill within a faction, family, or group, such as with joining the Shrine as I think it would greatly help in improving my activity on the server and my willingness to move away from what I'm already used to. In addition, since I'm currently on a break from college, I’ll pretty much be available throughout most days of each week, if not any, so I should have no problem being able to come online for any important events and mandatory meetings unless I already have something else urgent happening in advance or planned prior in real life which will prevent me from doing so otherwise (in which case I'll inform the lead about through submitting an activity-log).
List your current roles on the server:
[College] Toshihiro Ezureya | LiterallyElite (Primary)
[Grade-12] Irushi Haruhiko | Literally2Elite (Primary)
Link any previous applications:
What position are you applying for (Maiden or Priest)?
I’ll be applying for the role of Priest.
What is your motivation for applying?
I would say that my drive for applying to the Shrine Faction consists of a combination of various reasons, one being having only involved myself in the Sports Faction on one of my main characters, joining teams such as HS Track & College Basketball. While they did offer a decently fun experience for me during the time that I used to be on them, it was only a matter of time before I eventually quit both out of disinterest and feeling insistent on trying something else new as no other team or Faction seemed to pique my curiosity more than the Shrine has as of the last couple of months. There are also some other additional ones such as being encouraged to try it out by some friends of mine and wanting to further expand upon a character's personality and background.
But overall, I believe that my primary motivation above all for deciding to apply for the Shrine would have very much to do with me wanting to stray further away from my comfort zone and introducing myself to a different side of Roleplay Hub that I've never experienced before as of yet and has caught my attention numerous times. This, combined with having the opportunity to familiarize and further educate myself with an important piece of Japanese Culture made me feel more inclined to give it a chance and explore areas that would not only make me more knowledgeable about a subject in which I am very interested in learning more about, but also could serve to help with enhancing my roleplaying abilities, engaging with others in more unique and interesting roleplaying scenarios/settings, and also getting more used to playing a character that is much different personality-wise compared to other stereotypes that I'm already too used to portraying.
What do you currently know about Shintoism? Are you willing to learn more about it?
Although my current knowledge of Shintoism may be pretty limited considering that I am not far too experienced with knowing all that much about the religion as of yet, I’ve taken some time to gather and understand what information I was able to find after having done my own research.
While this may be the extent of how much I know as of currently, I’d still definitely be more than willing to learn more about Shintoism and its complex history even upon becoming a Priest as it’s something that does fascinate me despite not being much of an expert on as of writing.
Kami
For one, Shintoism is a historic religion that is Indigenous to Japan and translates to “the way of the Kami”. The word “Kami” typically translates to “gods, deities, or lords”, however, they can be more than simply just that as it is much more complex than that of other religions where there is one superior God amongst others. Kami, are essentially neutral spirits that take the form of concepts that are generally important to life as we know it, some examples being natural features like mountains and lakes, or even natural forces, such as fire and thunder. There are believed to be countless different types of Kami that exist within the world, each one which is capable of inhabiting something, including artificially made objects. In addition, humans can also become Kami after death and are revered by their families as ancestral Kami. These concepts which the Kami take the form of and use to identify themselves can also be interacted with which comes in the form of prayer and offering sacrifices such as food. The Japanese worship of Kami serves as a way to preserve a sacred relationship with the environment around them. In addition, unlike other religions where there is a separation between the physical and spiritual beings within different realities, with Shintoism they are instead both bound to and inhabit the Earth together.
Rituals
The purpose of Rituals is deeply tied to worshipping the Kami, as well as the life and seasonal cycles of humans and nature with the end result of keeping away evil spirits. Failing to properly conduct a ritual to worship Kami or disrespecting them can lead to punishment which is referred to as "Shinbatsu", commonly in the form of an illness. To add, several different types of rituals exist within Shintoism, usually ones that are common such as Purification, Adoration, Opening of the Sanctuary, and Presentation of Food Offerings among many others.
Purity
Generally referred to as "Harae", Purification serves as a way to remove spiritual pollution from one's body (a.k.a "Tsumi", which translates to "Sin", or "Kegare", which translates to "uncleanness"). This pollution is considered as anything that can separate someone from the creative musubi nature of all Kami. These include Kegare polluters such as disease, death, filth, and blood, whereas Tsumi polluters involve actions such as crime, murder, or the disrespect of family relatives. Within Shinto, impurity is only considered temporary as humans are not considered to be naturally impure much like other religions. Instead, humans and nature are inherently good, but when tainted with impurity is something that can be removed before interacting with a Kami in rituals or prayer to avoid disrespecting the spirits.
Torii Gate
A Torii is a traditional Japanese gate that is usually found at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine, symbolically marking the boundary between the human world and the sacred. It is also considered an area where Kami are welcomed and are thought to travel through. To add, you must bow your head before a Torii gate before entering to show respect to Kami.
Shinto Shrines
Shrines are typically identified as the most prominent aspects of Shintoism, which are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami. People visit shrines to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune. In addition, they are also visited during special events such as New Years, Setsubun, and Shichigosan.
Shrines can be a place where any Kami can reside and interact with humans, which can range from massive architectural structures to more smaller ones in scale such as road-sign, forest, or household shrines. At the center of a Shinto Shrine resides what is known as a "Go-Shintai", which is an object that a Kami lives in, however, the object itself is not the Kami. Often it is an object that would typically be seen in rituals, such as swords, mirrors, and jewels. However, they can also take the form of more natural features such as mountains, trees, or rocks.
The "Honden" (or "main hall"), which is considered to be the most important building inside a Shrine is responsible for housing the Go-Shintai and is closed off the the public. However, in front of the Honden is the "Haiden" (or "wall of worship") which is accessible to the public and is a place where the public can worship, as well as partake in rituals.
Priests & Maidens
Shrine Priests, also regarded as "Shinshoku", are responsible for performing Shinto rituals for the sole purpose of ensuring the continuance of an acceptable relationship between Kami and the worshipper through offerings. Both men and women are capable of becoming priests and are allowed to marry each other while also having children. In addition, they often live within the Shrine grounds, also being assisted by younger women (Miko) who help in completing Shrine tasks and are typically the daughters of Priests.
Shrine Maidens, also regarded as "Miko" are just as significant to Shinto tradition as Priests are, being that they serve as intermediaries between the human world and divine realm, while also acting as vessels for the Kami to communicate with humans. Along with this, they also help with cleaning/preserving the shrine compound, selling amulets, performing special dances, and assisting the male priests with rituals and prayers.
In Character
Information:
Character Full Name:
Irushi Haruhiko
Character Title:
Mr. (Mister)
Character Age:
(Born on November 21st, 2000)
Upon first arriving to Karakura, I was 18 years of age before spending at least 3 years within the city, often visiting the Monastery at times of stress and worry order to find greater peace within myself, eventually deciding to permanently reside within the city soon after turning 21 years old. In the present, I am now 24 years of age.
Character Marital Status:
Currently Single
Character Nationality:
Japanese
Character Phone-Number:
(030)-564-7004
Degree/Certifications (If applicable):
I do not own any Degrees, Certifications, or Awards of any kind as of currently. Although I do not have a history of having a good education through mainly being homeschooled and am able to sustain myself and live normally as a citizen of Karakura.
Backstory (1000+ Words):
Early Life:
Irushi Haruhiko was first born in Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan, often regarded for its vibrant, bustling, and modern-day aesthetic which fascinated the eyes of any that laid upon it. However, it was much different compared to the kind of place Irushi originally had to grow up in, which in his case were the dingy, dirty, gloomy slums that he and his poverty-ridden parents lived in. Oftentimes, he’d feel as though his life couldn’t have gotten any more tragic than it already has for him and his family who barely had what they needed to get by on top of needing to tolerate with the unsanitary and horrible conditions that the environment he lived in had. Despite their false promises that their lives would get better somehow, over time Irushi would gradually continue to lose faith in his parents, which would take a toll on his mental health, along with his ability to build trust in other people within his own life. It wasn’t until Irushi turned 7 years old that both his parents would eventually decide that Irushi should be put into the care of an orphanage located within the city of Shinjuku. Even with the relief and gratitude of knowing that their son would now be in a safer place, it couldn't restrain his parents from holding back their emotions at the thought of giving up their son due to their own failures. While Irushi on the other hand didn’t know what to feel at the thought of losing his two biological parents because of how poorly his life started out, he knew that this was his new life which was decided for him and was one which he’d now have to endure on his own.
During his stay at the orphanage, Irushi grew into an early teenager but often struggled to build relationships or connections with the other children who were present nearby, causing him to be treated like an outcast. This was usually because of how badly his mental health state had already diminished during the time that he lived with his parents, so much to where it affected the way he interacted with others. Even when presented with some opportunities to talk to other children, he’d still struggle to speak his mind or share any thoughts he had with anyone else around him, further cementing his loneliness. It was due to this that he'd sometimes be mocked and belittled for his behavior, resulting in him getting into fights with those who attempted to talk down on him. While the thought of never having a chance at being adopted was one thing that would occasionally cross his mind several times, there would eventually come a day in his life where during a selection, he’d ultimately be greeted by a formal-looking male adult known as Oda Fujiyama, kindly asking Irushi if he would like to be adopted to which he'd soon respond by gesturing with a nod, concluding his stay at the orphanage.
Teenage Life:
It was at this point in Irushi’s life that he would be completely oblivious to how much it would change in contrast to what he had already been through during his younger years at the slums and at the orphanage, but little did he anticipate how much better it would turn out for him upon having a father figure who he could look up to and depend on for support. Upon the first couple of months of living with his new father, Irushi’s life would drastically improve in many areas, such as him having cleaner clothes to where, an education, a better home, the opportunity to explore areas within Shinjuku he never would’ve thought he’d be setting foot in, alone that is, and specifically his mental health and ability to build better trust in others, especially his father. During each moment in time that they spent with each other, the relationship between Irushi & Oda would continue to flourish into something much more special between them as the two would gradually engage in more fluent conversations despite getting off to a rough start from the beginning of their interactions.
One day, while in the middle walking through Shinjuku with his father, a group of individuals in formal attire would bypass Oda and Irushi, one of which laid eyes on the two before making his way through the bustling crowds alongside his the group he was apart of. This wasn't the first time this has happened however, as it had made Irushi feel somewhat unsettled due to the aura they presented despite it being similar to that of his father’s. Oda would soon catch onto this, deciding to eventually sit down with Irushi to have a conversation with him about the Yakuza, and going into detail about their identity, as well as his own and how he too used to be a part of it at one point in time. However, it was because of his recklessness within the organization that it costed him the life of someone very close to him, that being his soulmate who was also a big part of the reason for why he decided to adopt a child, specifically Irushi who he chose out of feeling reminded of them. Oda would go on to explain how it was also because of his soulmate that he decided to disassociate himself from the Yakuza and change his ways, additionally deciding to become a father figure for the sake of evolving into a much more uplifting person than who he initially used to be.
It also wouldn’t be long before Oda would bring Irushi to visit a Shinto Shrine (Hanazono Shrine) within an area of Shinjuku that he had not seen before as of yet. He would describe how during times of distress in his past, up until the present day, he’d visit the shrine as his way of not only seeking redemption and purification for his past sins but also for seeking peace, good fortune, and protection through the way of Shintoism.
Although Shinto was completely unknown to Irushi before this, something about the atmosphere of the entire environment that was presented to him, along with the religion itself intrigued him enough to where he wanted to further educate himself more on the religion. This compelled Irushi to continue visiting the Shinto Shrine alongside Oda, and even in his own free time on many separate occasions, offering donations to the Kami and allowing him to further understand their involvement with the rest of the world. From being introduced to this practice, not only would Irushi be able to learn to seek peace through a method of what he saw as a meditative experience for him, but would also be able to have a way of receiving guidance and protection even without his father's presence.
Young Adult Life (Present Day):
As the years went by, Irushi continued to spend his time occasionally visiting the Hanazono Shrine, learning to become a more responsible human being who could often handle errands on his own, and take better care of himself while also managing to develop decent hand-to-hand combat skills through his father's prior experience from working as a Yakuza higher-up. Even though it was for the intention of being able to defend himself in case there ever turned out to be a situation in time where he needed to, it still gave him and Oda something to bond over the more they spent time doing it together.
Eventually, on Irushi’s 18th birthday, he would be gifted his very own traditional kimono that contained a vibrant color scheme which he’d be using for an upcoming Festival at the Shrine, meant to celebrate the New Year. When the day finally arrived, it gave Irushi one of, if not the happiest memory he could’ve ever possibly hoped for in his life. From witnessing the many crowds of people wearing their own unique traditional attire to the many various decorations that complimented the overall aesthetic of the shrine’s calm and peaceful nature, everything about this event in time, including finally watching the fireworks that lit up the night sky just beside his father was a memory he would hold close to him for as long as he lived.
Unfortunately, this would be the last time the two would spend time with each other again as an incident would occur only a few months later when Irushi and his father would be confronted by someone who Oda recognized as a past enemy from his life as a Yakuza. This individual would have a brief conversation with Oda before pulling out a handgun in an attempt to shoot both Irushi and him, which would result in Oda using his body as a shield in an effort to protect his son. He would then quickly spring into action despite having been shot by more bullets, manage to fully incapacitate the individual before collapsing to the ground from organ damage and blood loss. After these events, Irushi & Oda would share one last heartwrenching interaction at the hospital before his father soon passed away from the critical injuries inflicted upon his body.
It was at this point that Irushi felt as though his life was over for him, that he had nothing else to look forward to or live for anymore. But deep down he knew that wasn't true, nor was it what his father would’ve wanted him to think either as it only would’ve made everything he’s experienced up to this point feel almost in vain. Despite the deep depression Irushi temporarily fell into, he’d use the time he had with himself to decide on his next approach. This would finally come down to him deciding to move to a secluded island within Japan called Karakura, a place that from his knowledge was partially home to the Shinsei Seinari Monastery, and also somewhere he wished to go to to start his new life. Even with the pain of knowing his father would no longer be around with him, he would continue to remind himself of what his father would have said to him if he were still around, specifically his most notable comments on how he should continue to live with his head held up high even in times of distress or without him ever being around to guide him. In any case, Irushi would pay one last visit to the same Shinto Shrine he and his father would often visit together, saying his prayers before eventually leaving Shinjuku for good.
In the present day, Irushi would permanently reside within the city of Karakura, going out of his way to regularly visit the Shinsei Seinaru Shrine and paying his respects to the Kami during times of distress while occasionally seeking guidance and advice from the shrine staff. Each festival he participated in at the Shrine, specifically New Year's, was something that never failed to bring a sense of wonder and sentimentality to him, allowing him to further appreciate it for how much it had positively impacted not only his own, but also his father's life. It'd often remind him of the day Oda first took him to see one, a memory he would never forget, alongside his father's wishes and the gifts that were given to him which he would continue to pay his respect towards through the practice of Shinto.
- CHARACTER KNOWLEDGE / SITUATIONS -
How does your character act around shrine grounds? How do they interact with guests and other staff?
With each visit he took to the Shrine, Irushi would begin by first taking a bow towards the Torii gate, as not doing so otherwise would already be considered a sign of disrespect for the shrine grounds, and eventually would make his way towards the temizuya/chozuya fountain, washing both his hands one at a time to properly purify himself just before setting foot onto the sacred grounds. During his time, it wasn't too uncommon for him to admire the aesthetic architecture which was the Monastery, the breathtaking view of the forest from the bridge, alongside the many decorations hung around the area which complimented the atmosphere. Usually after having donated to the Shrine and commencing his prayer, he'd have no issues saying hello to and behaving very maturely and respectfully towards other visiting guests who also worship the Kami, along with the Priests and Maidens that he would occasionally encounter throughout several instances in time. Depending on the situation, each conversation he had with them sometimes made him feel as though they served some sort of significant importance, especially during their tarot card readings. Even if these interactions happened to be brief, each one made him feel more appreciative of the environment he was in, leading to him taking bows towards any staff he spoke to as a way to show his gratitude for their services and kindness just before exiting when he needed to.
You see a guest jumping around the roofs of the building and overall disrespecting shrine grounds, how would your character handle it?
Upon noticing the individual in question who recklessly stepped across the rooftops of the Monastery, Irushi would be quick to act by making his way over to the area where the individual was causing the commotion. He knew that something like this was completely unacceptable and should be dealt with immediately to not disturb the peace of the Monastery's already peaceful atmosphere and nature, or potentially cause any further problems that may hold bigger consequences. Despite Irushi feeling a small sense of irritation from this, he would keep his composure, refusing to be swayed by any emotions or anger by any means as it wouldn't help the situation, nor himself. He would approach the situation in a very mature fashion, politely asking for the individual to make their way down from the rooftops and cautiously guiding them to safety as best as he could until they reached safer ground. Even while their actions may have been unacceptable, their safety was especially something that needed to be confirmed first before he could properly lecture them. Upon reaching safety, Irushi would then approach the individual once more, thanking them for their cooperation and following up by stating that they should abstain from ever repeating the same action as the Shrine is considered a place of worship and tranquility, rather than a place to commit reckless acts of parkour or any sort of activity that is not meant for or disturbs the environment. After all, he was aware that this only would serve to not just negatively impact the experience of other guests, but also the Shrine's reputation as well.
> If this was to not work and the individual ignores the warning, Irushi would then take a more strict approach, stating that if they did not comply with this request, they will have to consider requesting the assistance of other shrine staff which could lead to them being escorted off the premises and risk potentially blacklisted depending on their behavior. Although this was something Irushi would have only done as a final resort, it was one that he'd turn to as long as he knew it was necessary to maintain the peace.
(Action - Giving a First Warning)
"Greetings Sir/Ma'am, I'd like to politely ask if you could please refrain from carelessly jumping around on the rooftops. It is rude not only to us Shrine Staff but also to the environment which you currently reside in as it is meant to be a place of peace and not one where we do parkour or any reckless stunts. Please follow my instructions to guide you to safer ground so you avoid hurting yourself."
(Action - Responding upon seeing that they did not listen to or ignored the warning)
"Sir/Ma'am, once more I'd like to respectfully ask if you could please step down from the rooftops, otherwise I will feel inclined to have to inform the other Shrine Staff about your behavior which will potentially lead to you being escorted off the premises."
(Action - Responding to them listening to the warning)
"Thank you for your compliance. However, I'd like to ask if you could please never do something like that again as it not only strictly goes against our rules but is very disrespectful to the Shrine grounds that you stand on, otherwise, it could lead to harsher consequences such as us having no choice but to escorting you to the Shrine entrance, or revoking your right to access the Shrine through a blacklist which is something I do not want to have to do."
Why does your character want to become a shrine maiden/priest?
Irushi's drive to want to become a Priest was greatly influenced by his experiences with practicing the ways of Shintoism alongside his father and realizing over time how much it had greatly impacted various areas of his life. Not only did it help with considerably improving his outlook on the world around him, but also helped him to connect with it in such a way that made him feel more at peace with himself while also serving to give him a greater and more fulfilling identity that he wishes to further embrace and present to the community. Paying his respects to not just his father, but also the Kami that he placed his beliefs and faith into was something he wouldn't have minded putting his time, or even life towards doing, along with helping to preserve the sacred grounds and ancient architecture that the Monastery was known for.
Overall, having discovered the many positive attributes of what the Shrine had to offer to him made him feel passionate about wanting to expand and share his knowledge of the way of Shintoism with other guests with the hopes of granting them a warm sense of comfort, guidance, and reassurance alongside the other Maidens & Priests, the same as he felt when he was first introduced into the religion. In addition, having the opportunity to work in a setting that can help him resonate with others around him who strive for the same objective of paying their respects to the Kami and maintaining the environment which they reside in would not only serve to counter his feelings of isolation but contributing towards a feeling of home that he wanted and needed for himself.
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