BEGIN is a foundational trio in the 'Okinawan Boom' of Japanese music, originating from Ishigaki Island. Formed in 1988 by childhood friends, they rose to national prominence by blending traditional Okinawan folk (Shimauta) with Western pop-rock and blues.
Their sound identity is inextricably linked to the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed lute, and the soulful, grounded vocals of Eisho Higa. They are perhaps most culturally significant for 'Nada Sousou,' a song that has become a standard in the Japanese canon, covered by dozens of artists. Their career arc shows a transition from a more standard pop-rock outfit in the late 80s to a deeper exploration of their Ryukyuan roots in the 2000s, eventually inventing the 'Ichigo-ichie,' a hybrid instrument designed to make music more accessible. Critically, they are lauded for their authenticity and for bringing Okinawan regional identity into the mainstream without resorting to caricature. They occupy a similar space to artists like The Boom or Natsukawa Rimi, acting as a bridge between ancestral tradition and modern songwriting.
Shares folk rock, acoustic folk, americana (subgenres); analog_warmth, stripped_back, live_recording (production style)
Shares analog_warmth, stripped_back, live_recording (production style); folk rock, acoustic folk, americana (subgenres)
Shares folk rock, acoustic folk, americana (subgenres); baritone, gentle, crooning (vocal style)
Shares folk rock, americana, soft rock (subgenres); analog_warmth, stripped_back, live_recording (production style)
Shares analog_warmth, stripped_back, live_recording (production style); folk rock, acoustic folk (subgenres)
Shares acoustic folk, folk rock, soft rock (subgenres); analog_warmth, stripped_back, live_recording (production style)
Shares acoustic folk, americana, soft rock (subgenres); nostalgic, tender, peaceful (moods)
Shares analog_warmth, stripped_back, hand_played (production style); gentle, harmonized, crooning (vocal style)
Shares folk rock, americana, soft rock (subgenres); baritone, gentle, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares ocean, bonfire, sunday_morning (atmosphere); analog_warmth, stripped_back (production style)
Shares soft rock, folk rock, americana, acoustic folk (subgenre)
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