【村所神楽】
　村所神楽が継承されている村所地区は、宮崎県西米良村の中央部に位置し、椎葉村の尾崎山（おざきやま）を源流とする一ツ瀬川と、西の熊本県側から流れる板谷川（いたやがわ）が合流する地域にある。また、主要道の交点として古くより栄えてきた。
　鎮守である村所八幡神社（むらしょはちまんじんじゃ）は、村所地区を見下ろす高台に鎮座する。南北朝時代、米良に足跡を残した後醍醐天皇（ごだいごてんのう）の皇子である征西将軍（せいせいしょうぐん）・懐良親王（かねながしんのう）を祀る。親王没後の文明３年（１４７１）に既に建立されていた御川神社（おんかわじんじゃ）に大王宮（だいおうぐう）を合祀し大王宮御川神社（だいおうぐうおんかわじんじゃ）と改め、生前好まれた神楽を奉納したことが村所神楽の起源と伝わる。その後、天正１８年（１５９０）に宇佐八幡宮（うさはちまんぐう）の社号を受け、明治４年（１８７１）に村所八幡神社と改称された。
　村所神楽は村所公民館前庭に注連（しめ）を建立し三十三番が執り行われる他、毎年１２月には狹上稲荷神社（さえいなりじんじゃ）など氏子区の数か所の神社でも奉納されている。
　神楽の前半に御降りになる「大王様（だいおうさま）」は懐良親王であると伝わり、ここから南朝に関わる神々、土地の神々が降臨する「神神楽（かみかぐら）」と呼ばれる神事性の強い厳粛な舞が続く。神神楽の終わりを告げる「注連拝（しめおが）み」が終わると、勇壮な「民神楽（みんかぐら）」の時間となり、賑やかな神楽囃子が許される。
　令和２年（２０２０）現在、村所神楽保存会は３８名在籍、県内外での神楽公演等にも参加し、歴史ある御神楽の保存継承に努めている。

【Murasho Kagura】
The Murasho region, where the eponymous Murasho kagura has been passed down for generations, lies within he central region of the village of Nishimera, in the western part of Miyazaki Prefecture, at the confluence of the Hitotsuse River, which has its source in Mt. Ozaki, near the village of Shiiba, and the Itaya River, which flows in from Kumamoto Prefecture in the west. It has flourished since the distant past as an important stopping point for travelers passing through the area.
The sacred grove of Murasho Hachiman-jinja sits high up on a hill, commanding a view over the whole region of Murasho. The shrine honors the Seisei Shogun (literally “General of the Western Pacification Command”), Prince Kanenaga, crown prince and son of Emperor Godaigo, who had visited Mera during the period of Northern and Southern Dynasties (the mid to late 14th Century). Following the Prince’s passing in 1471, the title of “Dai-Ōgū” (literally a “Great Shrine enshrining an Imperial Prince”) was inferred to the recently-built shrine Onkawa-jinja, causing it to be renamed Dai-Ōgū Onkawa-jinja, and the Prince’s fondness while he was alive for the kagura performed there is said to be the origin of Murasho kagura. After this, in 1590, the shrine received official recognition from the head shrine at Usa Hachimangu (now Usa Jingu), and was later renamed Murasho Hachiman-jinja in 1871.
Besides raising shime (sacred pillars used to welcome the gods) and performing all 33 dances in the kagura repertoire at the Murasho Community Center, in December, kagura is also performed at Sae Inari-jinja, and several other shrines in the area.
The first part of the kagura, in which “Daiō-sama,” said to be Prince Kanenaga, together with local deities and others relating to the ancient Southern Court, descends to earth, is called the “kami kagura” (“kagura for the gods”), and consists of several solemn dances rich in ritualism. After the “shime ogami” (“prayer to the shime”), which announces the end of the kami kagura, is performed, it is time for the more stirring and rousing “min kagura” (“kagura for the people”), during which more lively kagura and musical accompaniment is permitted.
As of 2020, The Murasho Kagura Preservation Committee consists of 38 members, who take part in performances all over the country, and devote themselves to the preservation and passing down of this historic form of kagura.