【下組神楽】
  下組神楽（しもぐみかぐら）が保存伝承されている下組自治公民館区は、高千穂町中心街から西に延びる国道３２５号線の上野地区南側に位置する集落で、世帯数９０戸で構成されている。氏神社の柚木野神社（ゆのきのじんじゃ）は、古くは柚木野大明神と称し、山の神である大山祇命（おおやまづみのみこと）と農業の神として祭祀される歳神（としのかみ）を主祭神とし、明治４年に集落の天神社（てんじんじゃ）を合祀している。
  夜神楽は１０数戸を小組とする６集落の廻し当番で行われ、柚木野集落が当番の年は神社敷地内の自治公民館を神楽宿としているが、その他の集落では今なお民家を神楽宿としている。この年の当番集落・鬼切畑（おぎりはた）には、高千穂神社の御祭神で神武天皇の兄神にあたる三毛沼尊（みけぬのみこと）の鬼八（きはち）退治伝説地名伝承が残されている。その旧跡が「鬼切り石（おにきりいし）」で、伝えでは、阿蘇谷に身を隠していた鬼八がこの地に姿を現したため、尊が鬼切丸（おにきりまる）という刀で一太刀切りつけたが、石の上に乗っていた鬼八が飛びのいたため太刀は外れ、その割れ目が太刀の跡といわれている。また、奥高千穂峡といわれる尾橋渓谷（おばしけいこく）をはじめ、塵取ケ池（ちりとりがいけ）に棲む大蛇八體龍（だいじゃはちたいりゅう）を祀る八體龍宮神社（はちたいりゅうぐうじんじゃ）など、豊かな自然景観と水神信仰が今に息づいている。
  高千穂の神楽は合併前の旧村で祭場の飾りや舞、被り物等に若干の違いがあり、旧上野村・田原村系統に属する下組神楽では、立烏帽子（たてえぼし）・角髪鉢巻（みずらはちまき）の他に折烏帽子（おりえぼし）や毛笠（けがさ）と呼ばれる頭髪を用いる。１５人の神楽祝子者（ほうししゃ）のうち、２０代から４０代の後継者が半数を占めるようになり、熱心な伝承活動を継続している。

【Shimogumi-Kagura】
The ShimogumiAutonomous Community Center District is comprised of 90 households. Home to Shimogumi Kagura, it is located south of Ueno District along National Route 325, west of Takachiho downtown. A shrine of local deities, Yunokino Shrine worships Ooyamazumi-no-Mikoto, the god of mountain who was also called “Yunokino-daimyojin” in ancient times, andToshi-no-kami, the god of harvest.Since 1871, it has also been worshiping Tenman shrine.
Each year, yokagura is presented by one of the six villages that are made up of about a dozen villages each. In the year when Yunokino Village is in charge of the performance, the concert is held at the community center that is housed within the shrine complex; however, as for the rest of the villages, private houses are designated as the concert venue. In Ogirihata Village, which hosted kagura this year, is home to the legend of Emperor Jinmu’s brother Mikenu-no-Mikoto conquering a demon named Kihachi. One of the historic sites of relative importance is the “Onikiri Rock.” According to legend, when Kihachi appeared fromAso Valley, Mikoto stabbed the demon in a single stroke; however, Kihachi jumped from the rock he was sitting on and deflected the stab, leaving a crack on the rock. It is said that the crack was the trace of the sword. Lush nature and the practice of worshipping water remain rooted in the community today, such as Obashi Gorge, which is also called the heart of Takachiho Gorge, and Hachitairyugu Shrine, which worships Daijyahachitairyu Dragon that inhabits “Chiritorigaike”lake.
Before the municipal merger in Takachiho, kagura exhibited slight differences in the decoration of the festival venue, choreography, or masks. Shimogumi Kagura, which belongs to the line of former Kamino Village and Tabaru Village, villagers wear an ori-eboshi hat and maintain a hairstyle called kegasaapart from atate-eboshi hat and mizura-hachimaki hairstyle. Currently 15 active kagura performersengage in outreach activities. Half of them are young apprentices aged in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.