【新田神楽】
　新田神楽が継承されている新田神社は、宮崎県の中央、児湯郡の東南に位置し、日向灘(ひゅうがなだ)を臨む新富町にある。新田地区は、一ツ瀬川下流域の新田原(にゅうたばる)と呼ばれる台地とその麓に位置する。地内(じない)の新田原古墳群は207基の古墳からなり、昭和19年(1944)に国の史跡として指定されている。
　新田神社は旧称を正八幡宮(しょうはちまんぐう)と称し、新田郷の総鎮守社として崇敬されてきた。天正５年(1577)、都於郡(とのこおり)城主伊東氏が島津軍に敗れ、米良に敗走した際の兵火に遭い、本殿などを焼失したと伝えるが、現存する棟札には慶長11年(1606)に修復の記録が残る。その後も延享４年(1747)の島津忠雅(しまづただのり)をはじめとした棟札が残り、佐土原藩主島津氏が代々崇敬した神社であることを物語る。また、佐土原藩の代表的修験者であった泉光院(せんこういん) 野田成亮(のだしげすけ)が文化９年(1812)から文政元年(1818)まで東北の出羽三山(でわさんざん)をはじめとする九峰に修行に出かけたことを記念する石塔が、境内の隣接地に残る。
　２月17日の早朝５時より拝殿にて神事のあと、神楽の奉納がはじまる。御祭典からは境内に設えた神楽舎に移る。平地春神楽の核をなす「大神(だいじん)神楽」は「神武(じんむ)神楽」ともいい、先導役であるホッシャが関連する神々を導き、記紀神話や太鼓のいわれについて語り、岩戸開きの成就を目指すものである。新田神楽の一番の見せ場ともいえる「神楽」の名を冠した「綱切(つなきり)」は、素戔嗚尊(すさのおのみこと)の八岐大蛇(やまたのおろち)退治の場面であり、真剣で大蛇に見立てた藁綱(わらつな)をばっさりと切る雄壮な番付である。稲作が盛んな宮崎平野中央部に位置し、五穀豊穣や無病息災の祈りを織り交ぜながら、旧佐土原藩領らしい雄壮活発な舞が多い。
　令和６年(2024)３月現在、神楽保存会には36名が在籍しており、後継者育成にも力を注ぎ、地域を上げて伝承活動に取り組んでいる。

【Nyuta Kagura】
Nyuta Shrine, where Nyuta Kagura has been handed down for generations, is in Shintomi Town. This town faces the Hyuganada Sea and is located in southeast Koyu-gun in the center of Miyazaki Prefecture. The Nyuta area is on a plateau called Nyutabaru and its foothills are downstream of the Hitotsuse River. Nyutabaru Kofun Group is also located here. It consists of 207 mounded tombs and was designated as a national historic site in 1944.
Nyuta Shrine was once called Shohachimangu. It has been venerated as a shrine dedicated to the tutelary deity of the Nyuta area. Lord Ito of Tonokoori Castle ruled the central area of Hyuga during the Middle Ages. He was defeated by Shimazu in 1577 and fled to Mera. It is said that at that time, the main shrine was burnt down by the attacking forces. An existing wooden historical plaque shows that repairs were made in 1606. A number of plaques have been found, indicating that repairs continued to be made thereafter. One of the plaques was placed by Shimazu Tadanori in 1747. This indicates that the shrine was venerated by the Shimazu clan for generations. In the land adjacent to the precinct, a stone pagoda can be found commemorating Senkoin Noda Shigesuke, a major mountain ascetic of the Sadowara Domain. He went to nine mountains, including Dewa Sanzan in the Tohoku area, for ascetic practice from 1812 to 1818.
Kagura is performed from five o’clock in the morning on February 17th after the Shinto ritual has been conducted. Then, the festival is moved to Kagura Hall that has been set up on the premises. Daijin Kagura, also called Jinmu Kagura, is the main kagura dance of spring. In this dance ritual, the leader, Hossha, guides related gods, tells chronicle myths, relates the origin of the taiko drum, and seeks to attain Iwatobiraki, the opening of a rock door. The main event of Nyuta Kagura is Tsunakiri, which has been crowned with the name of Kagura. It is a scene in which Susanoo-no-Mikoto exterminates Yamata-no-Orochi. A dancer uses a real sword in a lively motion to sever a huge snake portrayed by a twisted large rope made of straw. Many strong and vibrant dances exist in the central plain of Miyazaki, the former Sadowara Domain. It is a location where rice cultivation is well established, and these dances are performed while mixing in prayers for a bountiful harvest and good health.
As of March 2024, there are 36 members in the Kagura Preservation Society who are exerting themselves to foster successors and carrying out traditional activities that incorporate the entire community.