Shimanchu nu Takara

"Shimanchu nu Takara"
Single by Begin
from the album Begin no Shima Uta: Omoto Takeo 2
ReleasedMay 22, 2002 (2002-05-22)
GenreJ-pop, rock[1]
Length5:20
LabelTeichiku
SongwriterBegin
Begin singles chronology
"Bottle Nihon to Chocolate"
(2002)		 "Shimanchu nu Takara"
(2002)		 "Nada Sōsō/Shimanchu nu Takara"
(2002)
Begin singles chronology
"Shimanchu nu Takara"
(2002)		 "Nada Sōsō/Shimanchu nu Takara"
(2002)		 "Ojii Jiman no Orion Beer (Eisa Version)"
(2003)

"Shimanchu nu Takara" (島人（しまんちゅ）ぬ宝（たから）; Okinawan for "Treasure of the Islanders") is a song by Okinawa-based J-pop band Begin.[2] It reached number 47 on the Oricon weekly charts and the band performed the song on NHK's 53rd annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2002. It has become a song iconic of Okinawa Prefecture due to its use of eisa-inspired chanting. Its B-side, which begins with "Soredemo Kurashi wa..." is noted as being one of the longest song titles in Japan.[3]

Background and release

Eishō Higa, the band's vocalist, revealed that the song was created following a dispute among students on whether "My Way" or Southern All Stars' "Yaya" would be the graduation song for Ishigaki Middle High School in 2001. His friend asked his second-year classmates about their feelings about Ishigaki Island. The answer, such as "grandpa and grandma are treasures" and "The sea is a treasure". After noticing that the word "treasure" was popping up everywhere, and thought, "They call the island a 'treasure'?".[a]

The song features various Okinawan elements such as the use of sanshin and the Okinawan way of life.[9][10] Yoh of Orange Range said that the song is about "how the people of Okinawa have lived, their roots. There were tough times, but it's a song that teaches you to live with a smile and be cheerful."[7]

The song was released on May 22, 2002[11] and it was performed in the NHK's 53rd annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen in the same year.[12][13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Begin, unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shimanchu nu Takara" (島人ぬ宝)Begin5:20
2."Nami" (波, "Wave")Donto5:04
3."Soredemo Kurashi wa Tsuzuku kara, Subete o, Ima, Wasureteshimau Tame ni wa, Subete o, Ima, Shitteiru Koto ga Jōken de, Boku ni wa Totemo Muri dakara, Hitotsuzutsu Wasureteiku Tame ni, Aisuru Hitotachi to Te o Tori, Wakeatte, Semete Omoidasanai Yō ni, Kurashi o Tsuzuketeiku no Desu" (それでも暮らしは続くから 全てを 今 忘れてしまう為には 全てを 今 知っている事が条件で 僕にはとても無理だから 一つづつ忘れて行く為に 愛する人達と手を取り 分けあって せめて思い出さないように 暮らしを続けていくのです, "Still We Live, All of Us, Now, in Order to Forget, Everything, Now, to Know the Reason, Because It Is Out of the Question for Me, in Order to Forget One by One, Holding Hands with the People You Love, Divided, so as to at Least Not Remember, That We Will Continue to Live")Begin4:19
4."Shimanchu nu Takara" (Original Karaoke) 5:19
Total length:20:00

Source:[1]

Commercial performance

The song charted in Oricon's Single CD Sales ranking 60 times and peaked at 47th.[11]

Cover versions

Because of the popularity of "Shimanchu nu Takara", it has been covered many times, including by Allister on the EP Guilty Pleasures, by Hearts Grow on their album Summer Chanpuru, by Yanawaraba for their album Nagiuta.[14] by Speed member Hiroko Shimabukuro on her solo album Watashi no Okinawa,[15] and, by Beni on her album.Covers 3.[16] Akari Kito and Fairouz Ai sung a version of the song in their respective character serving as the first ending for the 2025 anime series Okitsura.[17]

On the band's 30th anniversary of the band in 2020, "Shimanchu nu Takara" was sung by various people from Ishigaki Island.[18]

Live performance

During conclusion of the Begin's Sanishan Sango Show!! -35th Anniversary Music Brigade Tour-, they perform the song in their hometown of Ishigaki Island.[19]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Shimanchu nu Takara"
Chart Peak
Japan Single CD Sales (Oricon) 47[11]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources:[4][5][6][7][8]

Citations

  1. 1 2 "BEGIN / 島人(しまんちゅ)ぬ宝". CDJournal. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ "「島人ぬ宝」を探したい - 琉球新報 - 沖縄の新聞、地域のニュース". Ryukyushimpo.jp. September 28, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ "日本で最も長いタイトルの楽曲は？". CDJournal (in Japanese). April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  4. ↑ "BEGIN 沖縄本土復帰50年の節目の年に「島人ぬ宝」の20周年記念MVを公開！". PRTimes (in Japanese). May 22, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ "「この歌があったから頑張れる」「島人ぬ宝」輝いて15年". Yaeyama Mainichi Shimbun. July 17, 2017. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ "BEGIN「島人ぬ宝」15周年記念盤を本日リリース". Music Natalie (in Japanese). October 18, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  7. 1 2 BEGIN・比嘉栄昇「そんなになると思わなかった」「島人ぬ宝」制作秘話 子供たちの言葉に「感動して」 [BEGIN's Eisho Higa: "I never thought it would turn out like this." Behind-the-scenes story of the production of "Shiman Chu nu Takara": "I was moved by the children's words."]. Sponichi (in Japanese). July 27, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ BEGIN「島人ぬ宝」リリース20周年記念したMV公開「みんなと20周年を分かち合いたい」（動画あり / コメントあり） [BEGIN releases music video to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of "Shiman Chu nu Takara": "We want to share this 20th anniversary with everyone."]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). May 22, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ Sako, Rina (September 27, 2024). "BEGIN「渋谷百年総踊り」 | 盆踊りソングで描く、第二の故郷・渋谷の過去と未来". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Kawaguchi, Miho (January 22, 2016). "BEGINの歌がいつも時代に求められる理由とは？ 話題曲「海の声」をはじめとする25年の歩みを辿る". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "BEGINのシングル売上TOP11作品". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ "沖縄放送局のあゆみ". NHK. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  13. ↑ "BEGIN、2002年にリリースした「島人ぬ宝」20周年記念MVを公開 貴重な未公開映像など | Daily News". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  14. ↑ "やなわらばーが新作でサザンや陽水の名曲をカバー". Music Natalie (in Japanese). July 28, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  15. ↑ "ナタリー - 島袋寛子、地元名曲カバーでルーツたどる「私のオキナワ」". Music Natalie. July 16, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  16. ↑ BENI on twitter (December 5, 2013). "BENI 「島人ぬ宝 from COVERS 3」公開! - BENI | ベニ - UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN". Universal-music.co.jp. Retrieved January 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  17. ↑ Komatsu, Mikikazu (December 17, 2024). "Akari Kito, Fairouz Ai Sing OKITSURA: Fell in Love with an Okinawan Girl, but I Just Wish I Know What She's Saying Anime Ending Songs". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ "BEGIN、30周年記念ライブ映像&石垣島民による「島人ぬ宝」カバー動画を公開（動画あり / コメントあり）" (in Japanese). Music Natalie. June 5, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ BEGINが地元・石垣島で35周年記念ツアーを完走 比嘉栄昇「『島人ぬ宝』『涙そうそう』とか、たぶん僕たちの命よりも長く残っていくと思うと…」と責任の重さ痛感 [BEGIN completes their 35th anniversary tour in their hometown of Ishigaki Island. Eisho Higa said, "Songs like 'Shiman Chu nu Takara' and 'Nada Sōsō' will probably last longer than our lives," expressing his deep sense of responsibility.]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). March 30, 2026. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
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