Akademik

Saikai
   Abstinence, purification (see Imi, Shojin, Mono-imi, Misogi, Harae, Bekka, etc.) undertaken by a participant in a Shinto ritual. The two levels of abstinence are ara-imi 'rough (i.e. less comprehensive) abstinence' and ma-imi 'true abstinence'.

A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. .