In the evening darkness, a torchlight procession of local residents parades from Nagao Shrine to Ten-no-Hira Square. The festival originates from a legend that Emperor Keiko, on a pilgrimage to Kyushu over 1,000 years ago, was guided by a mysterious fire in the dark sea and reached the coast safely. Since then, this fire has been called Shiranui, which is the origin of the town's name. The festival is held every year to coincide with the first day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. When a pilgrimage boat carrying the mayor and a woman dressed as Emperor Keiko appears near the seabound torii gate of Nagao Shrine, fire arrows are shot from the shore and ignite small bonfires on poles (kagaribi) set up in the sea. At dusk, as night closes in, about 50 people dressed in ancient costumes welcome the boat and lead it in a procession with torches to the main site of the festival, Ten-no-Hira Square.