【生目神楽】
　生目神楽が継承されている生目神社は、宮崎県の南東部に位置する県庁所在地、宮崎市にある。生目地区は大淀川下流域にあり、稲作が盛んな土地である。
　生目神社の創建は詳(つまび)らかではないが、『宇佐宮神領大鏡(うさぐうしんりょうおおかがみ)』には天喜４年(1056)には建立されていたと記されている。生目神社の様々な縁起の中でも色濃く伝承されているのが、景清(かげきよ)伝説である。平家の侍大将藤原景清(ふじわらのかげきよ)が日向に下ったのち、源氏の世を見るにしのびず、自らの眼をえぐって投げた先が生目神社であると伝わっている。御祭神として品陀和気命(ほむだわけのみこと)（応神天皇）とともに景清公など五柱の神をお祀りしている。古来より「活目(いくめ)八幡」と称し、眼の神様、日向の生目様として広く知られ、全国からの参詣者も多い神社である。
　生目神社には、平成30年(2018)に国の重要文化財に指定された木造神王(もくぞうしんのう)面が伝わる。宝治２年(1248)の銘が記されており、その大きさや形式から顔に装着する面ではなく、独立して信仰の対象となるものであったと思われる。
　生目神楽の始まりは不詳だが、寛政８年(1796)の荒神(こうじん)面や、彫刻の技量に優れた禅僧 平賀快然(ひらがかいぜん)の銘「祐舎(ゆうしゃ)」が刻まれた鬼神面などが現存していることから、近世には成立していたと考えられている。
　神楽は、３月15日に近い土曜日の昼から深夜にかけ斎行される。無病息災や五穀豊穣を祈念する作神楽を中心に、力強い足運びの雄壮な舞が多いことが特徴である。「杵舞(きねまい)」や「田の神(たのかみ)」など、豊作祈願や子孫繁栄の演目に重きが置かれており、春神楽らしい笑いに包まれ、和やかな雰囲気のなか、神楽が奉納される。
　令和６年(2024)３月現在、神楽保存会には29名が在籍しており、若手後継者の育成に特に力を入れている。

【Ikime Kagura】
Ikime Shrine, where Ikime Kagura has been handed down for generations, is located in the prefectural capital Miyazaki City in southeast Miyazaki Prefecture. Ikime district is an area downstream of the Oyodo River and is known for rice cultivation.
The origin of the Ikime Shrine is not known. However, it is noted in Usagu Shinryo Okagami, a record of the divine territory of Usagu, that the shrine had already been erected in 1056. Out of the many legends surrounding Ikime Shrine, the most famous is Kagekiyo Legend. When Fujiwara-no-Kagekiyo, the samurai general of the Heike Clan, descended to Hyuga, he could not bear to see the Genji Clan come to power. It is said that the Ikime Shrine was built where he gouged out his eyes and threw them. The shrine enshrines five deities, including Kagekiyo along with Homudawake-no-Mikoto, or Emperor Ōjin. This shrine has been called Ikume Hachiman, and it is widely known as Himuka-no-Ikime-sama, God of Eyes, attracting many worshippers from around the nation.
Mokuzo Shin-No-Men, a wooden mask of a divine king, was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 2018. It is housed here in this shrine, and it includes an inscription, 1248. Its size and form suggest that it is not a mask to be worn but is an independent object of faith.
The origin of Ikime Kagura is not known. However, it is thought that this Kagura had already been established by the early modern period. This is because of a Kojin mask from 1796 as well as a Kijin mask with an inscription, Yusha, indicating that it was made by Hiraga Kaizen, a Zen monk with an outstanding carving skill.
Kagura is performed from noon to midnight on a Saturday closest to March 15th. Characterized by many majestic dances with powerful footwork, it centers on Saku Kagura and prays for bountiful harvest and good health. The emphasis is on Kinemai and Ta-no-Kami, programs featuring prayers for good harvest and prosperity of descendants. Kagura is dedicated in a peaceful atmosphere filled with laughter, something that marks spring Kagura.
As of March 2024, there are 29 members in the Kagura Preservation Society who are exerting themselves to foster successors. As of 2020, there are 25 hoshadon (performers) for this style of kagura, and the region is also actively accepting help from other areas to help preserve the art. The hoshadon get many requests to perform kagura from all over the country, and are putting a lot of effort into training young performers to ensure the protection of this historic element of regional folk culture.