Hachihikibaru Festival and Tsubakibara Festival are held in Ume Town, Saiki City, Oita Pref. in September every year. Hachihikibaru Festival is held at Yabashira Shrine and Tobinoo Shrine in Shigeoka District, while Tsubakibara Festival is at Takatoriya Shrine in Onoichi District. The traditional performing arts of Gaku (dancing), Shishi (lion), Haguma (white bear), and Tsue (walking stick) are dedicated to the gods. Among them, the most impressive is the Senzoku-gaku, which is prefecturally designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property. This is a dance performance that originates in an ancient legend. In 1527, Koreharu Saiki, the castellan of Togamure Castle, was killed in the battle against Nagakage Usuki. Taking Nagakage’ words that he would turn a blind eye to women and children getting away, the vassals of Saiki Clan, who disguised themselves as women and were playing the musical instruments, successfully broke out the enemy line carrying their lord’s mementos. Today the dancers put on bamboo poles decorated with flower ornaments and banners, and dedicate a dance to the gods in hope of the repose of Koreharu’s soul and the next year’s bumper crops.