is a Japanese pop rock group from Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Their sound contains many elements of traditional Okinawan music, and prominently features the sanshin.

In 2003, HMV Japan ranked the band at #100 in their "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists".

History The members of Begin – (sanshin, vocals), (guitar), and (piano) – are all from Ishigaki Island. They have been friends since elementary school. They also attended the same senior high school but upon graduation all intended to go their separate ways. One day, Eishō gathered the members together again and they began to focus on music. On December 5, 1988, they sang at a friend's wedding, calling themselves "Begin" for the first time. Soon they began to become famous. they have released 22 singles, 24 albums and 8 DVDs. Perhaps their most famous song is "Nada Sōsō", a collaboration between Begin and Ryōko Moriyama. Begin has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta. They are also the performers of the "Ichariba Ohana" and "Izayoi Yoi", the opening and first ending themes of the Disney-produced anime series Stitch!.

Selected songs "Blue Snow" (1990)

Discography Singles # Release date Title Highest Oricon chart rank Comments 1st 1990–3–21 Koishikute (恋しくて) 4th 2nd 1990-12-01 Blue Snow 25th 3rd 1991-11-10 YOU / Kore ga Hajimari Dakara (YOU/これがはじまりだから) 82nd 4th 1992-10-25 Afureru Namida (あふれる涙) 5th 1993–2–25 Sayonara, Soshite Arigatou (さよなら、そしてありがとう) 6th 1993–7–25 Dareka ga Kimi wo Yobu Koe ga (誰かが君を呼ぶ声が) 7th 1993-11-01 Hana-mochi Hito (花待ち人) 8th 1994–7–25 OKINAWAN SHOUT 9th 1995–3–25 Kimi dake wo Tsurete (君だけをつれて) 10th 1996–7–06 Koe no Omamori kudasai (声のおまもりください) 36th 11th 1997–5–21 Birthday Song 12th 1997–9–03 Sora ni Hoshi ga Aru you ni (空に星があるように) 13th 1997-11-21 Ai ga Hashiru (愛が走る) 14th 1998–3–21 Uchi e Kaerou (家へ帰ろう) 15th 1998–6–24 Mirai no Kimi e (未来の君へ) 16th 1998–8–12 Bouhatei de Mita Keshiki (防波堤で見た景色) 99th 17th 1999-10-21 Ai wo Sutenaide (愛を捨てないで) 18th 2000–3–23 Nada Sousou (涙そうそう) 159th First maxi single 19th 2000–5–31 Sora ni Hoshi ga Aru you ni (空に星があるように) 47th Re-released as maxi single 20th 2000-10-18 Kaze yo (風よ) 21st 2001-10-24 Akari (灯り) 22nd 2002–2–27 BOTORU Nihon to CHOKOREETO (ボトル二本とチョコレート) 23rd 2002–5–22 Shimanchu nu Takara (島人ぬ宝) 47th 24th 2002–6–26 Nada Sousou / Shimanchu nu Takara (涙そうそう／島人ぬ宝) Cassette Tape 25th 2003–2–20 OJII Jiman no ORIONBIIRU (オジー自慢のオリオンビール) Maxi single, limited Okinawa only release 26th 2003–6–18 Sono Toki Umareta Mono (その時生まれたもの) 38th 27th 2004–2–25 Itsumademo / YUGAFU-jima (いつまでも／ユガフ島) 49th 28th 2004–8–11 Chikai (誓い) 37th 29th 2004-12-16 Kimi wo Miteiru (君を見ている) 98th 30th 2006-10-25 Sanshin no Hana (三線の花/東京) 20th 31st 2007–2–07 MIIFAIYUU (ミーファイユー) 75th 32nd 2007–7–25 Koko kara Mirai e (ここから未来へ) 115th 33rd 2008–6–28 Bokura no Kono Subarashiki Sekai (僕らのこの素晴らしき世界) 99th 34th 2008-10-22 ICHARIBAO HANA (イチャリバオハナ) 112th 35th 2009–1–07 Egao no Manma (笑顔のまんま) 12th 36th 2012–9–07 Kokudou 508 Gousen (国道508号線) 72nd maxi single limited to Okinawa release 37th 2013–3–20 Haru ni GONDORA (春にゴンドラ)

Albums # Release date Title Highest Oricon chart rank Comments 1st 1990–6–23 Ongaku Ryodan (音楽旅団) 7th 2nd 1991–3–27 GLIDER 3rd 1991-11-21 Dokoka de Yume ga Kuchibue wo Fuku Yoru (どこかで夢が口笛を吹く夜) 27th 4th 1992-12-02 THE ROOTS 74th 5th 1993–9–22 MY HOME TOWN 6th 1994–9–01 Chhaban Night 7th 1995–3–25 FAN -LITTLE PIECES- First best-of album 8th 1995-10-25 USED First self-produced album 9th 1996-10-23 CM COMPILATION Twelve Steps 46th Best-of album 10th 1997–6–21 Ongaku Ryodan II (音楽旅団II) 11th 1998–6–24 Tokyo Ocean 12th 1999–3–25 BALLADS Best-of ballad selection album 13th 2000–7–21 BEGIN no Shimauta ~OMOTO TAKEO ~ (ビギンの島唄 〜オモトタケオ〜) 97th First best-of compilation of shima-uta songs 14th 2000–9–21 BEGIN 10th anniversary commemorative album 15th 2001–2–21 BEGIN BEST 1990–2000 52nd Best-of album 16th 2002–3–21 MUSIC FROM B.Y.G Live music recorded at B.Y.G. Live house 17th 2002–7–03 BEGIN no Shimauta ~OMOTO TAKEO 2~ (ビギンの島唄 〜オモトタケオ2〜) 33rd 2nd best-of shimauta album 18th 2003–7–24 BEGIN no Ichigo Ichie (ビギンの一五一会) 7th Self cover album 19th 2003–8–21 BEGIN no Ichigo Ichie 58 Drive (ビギンの一五一会 58ドライブ) 50th Cover album of classic Japanese music 20th 2003–9–25 BEGIN no Ichigo Ichie Drive in Starter (ビギンの一五一会 ドライブインシアター) 70th Cover album of Western music 21st 2004–7–14 Ocean Line 12th 15th anniversary commemorative album 22nd 2004–7–14 Reef Line 91st 23rd 2005–2–23 BEGIN Single Daizenshuu (BEGIN シングル大全集) 5th 15th anniversary best-of album 24th 2005–2–23 Forest Green 243 25th 2007–3–07 OKINAWAN FULL ORCHESTRA (オキナワン フール オーケストラ) 39th 26th 2008–3–26 BEGIN Live Daizenshuu (BEGIN ライブ大全集) 49th 27th 2008–7–23 BEGIN no Ichigo Ichie 2 (ビギンの一五一会2) 55th 28th 2009–8–05 3LDK 33rd 29th 2010–9–08 BEGIN no Shimauta ~OMOTO TAKEO 3~ (ビギンの島唄 〜オモトタケオ3〜) 25th Third shimauta album 30th 2011–2–16 BEGIN Single Daizenshuu Tokubetsukan (BEGINシングル大全集 特別盤) 33rd 20th anniversary best-of album 31st 2011–7–20 BEGIN no Shimauta OMOTO TAKEO no ga Best (ビギンの島唄 オモトタケオのがベスト) 40th 32nd 2012-10-24 Tropical Blues (トロピカルフーズ) 54th

References

External links BEGIN Official Web Site Profile Page at Imperial Records

See also

Music of Japan