【尾前神楽】
  尾前地区は、椎葉村の西端、耳川の最上流に位置する世帯数６７戸の集落である。集落から耳川の源流に広がる尾前渓谷は、自然豊かな紅葉の名所として知られる。豊富な水量に恵まれた渓流は、ヤマメの生息地として釣り人にも人気がある。椎葉村のなかでも猟師が多く狩猟が盛んな地区で、猟犬が大切にされている。
  尾前神楽は、１２月の第２土・日曜に、五穀豊穣、無病息災、山の安全などを祈願し、尾前神社にて奉納される。はじめに、尾前神社本殿で、式三番と称される「一神楽」｢大神神楽｣｢花の手｣などが舞われ、神迎えの祭典が執り行われる。その後、隊列を組み、太鼓を打ちならしながら山を下り、舞殿である神社拝殿に神々とともに向かう。舞殿の神前に榊木や御幣などが納められ、翌朝まで神楽が奉納される。
  神楽子（かぐらこ）と呼ばれる舞い手は２２名で、小学生の頃から神楽を習っている若い世代も多い。楽も舞も小中学生による子供神楽が、夜神楽を賑やかす。拝殿での式三番の終了後には、村人がせり歌などで囃し、舞をさらに盛り上げる。楽は八調子、手は大きく広げ回転をつけ、足は上下に動きをつけながら、優雅に激しく舞うのが特徴である。近隣の向山日当、向山日添、尾手納地区との神楽の交流が盛んで、それぞれの夜神楽で一演目を奉納し合っている。

【Omae Kagura】
Omae is a district of 67 households, located on the uppermost reach of the Mimi River in the western end of the Shiiba Village. The Omae Valley extends from the district to the source of the Mimi River and is famous for its pristine autumn leaves. The valley with abundant mountain freshwater is well-known among anglers as a habitat of yamame, a kind of trout. Due to the popularity of hunting, many hunters reside in the district and hunting dogs are well respected.
Omae Kagura is held on the second Saturday and Sunday of December at Omae Shirne to pray for abundant harvest, good health, and the regional safety. At first, “shikisanban” referring to three important programs “Ichikagura,” “Daijin kagura,” and “Hananote” are performed in the main hall, followed by a shinto ritual to welcome the deities. Afterwards, the performers accompanied by the deities descend the mountain in procession towards the worship hall while beating a taiko drum. The kagura performance lasts until the following morning on the performance stage decorated with sakaki branches and paper streamers at the front.
The 22 performers called “kagurako” include young men who have been learning kagura since elementary school. Children’s Kagura liven up the night kagura performance. After the “shikisanban” performance in the worship hall, the performance gets more exciting by the audience singing and chanting the “kaguraseri,” which is characterized by the powerful yet elegant dance with wide arm rotation and vigorous footwork. The village has a longstanding kagura exchange with the neighboring villages of Mukaiyama-hizoe, Mukaiyama-hiate, and Otenoo, and has played an act at the neighbors’ kagura performances.