BEGIN  

Begin is a renowned Japanese three-man pop group hailing from Ishigaki Island (石垣島), Okinawa, Japan. Their music style incorporates numerous elements of traditional Okinawan folk music and heavily features the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed banjo. One of their most well-known songs is Nada Sousou, a collaboration with Moriyama Ryouko. Begin has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta. Additionally, they are the performers of the opening ("Ichariba Ohana") and ending ("Izayoi Yoi") songs of the Disney-produced anime series Stitch! The members of Begin - Shimabukuro Masaru (島袋優, guitar, born 23.09.1968), Higa Eisho (比嘉栄昇, vocals, born 15.07.1968) and Uechi Hitoshi (上地等, piano, born 23.06.1968) - are all of native Okinawan ancestry and have been friends since elementary school. Upon graduation from senior high school, they initially planned to pursue different goals but were later reunited by Eisho and focused on their music career. On December 5th, 1988, they performed at a friend's wedding under the name "BEGIN". They are currently signed to Imperial Records.