BEGIN's Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Kankara Sanshin UmushirumunBEGIN36rank/position

Kankara Sanshin Umushirumun

Just hearing the cheerful sound of the sanshin makes your heart start to dance.

In the lyrics, the three strings are likened to a family—the father, the mother, and the children—humorously singing about them blending together in harmony.

You can almost feel the excitement of waiting for Okinawa’s summer Eisa festivals and even hear the sounds of a laid-back life; simply listening brings a smile to your face.

This piece is included on the classic album “Begin no Shimauta – Omoto Takeo 2,” released in July 2002, alongside songs like “Shimanchu nu Takara.” It’s perfect not only for lifting the spirits of the whole family, but also as an enjoyable first step for anyone who wants to start playing the sanshin.

BalloonBEGIN37rank/position

BEGIN / “Balloon” (from the DVD of the album “BEGIN no Marsha Shora”)

This is a track included on the album “Begin no Marcha Chora,” which was produced based on the Brazilian music style Marcha.

Released in 2015.

It’s an irresistibly bright, hype-raising song.

As you listen, energy wells up from deep inside and brings a smile to your face.

It makes you want to dance along to the rhythm.

The lyrics are distinctive for reflecting the era, featuring references such as the names of passenger-cargo ships that were active during the Meiji period.

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Araki Jakkan

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Yunta, the perm shopBEGIN38rank/position

BEGIN / Yunta, the Hair Salon

Its warm melody and gently conversational vocals soothe the heart.

It’s a song that brings back memories of home and fills you with nostalgia.

When you’re worn out by city life, listening to it feels like it gives you the strength to carry on tomorrow.

Two bottles and chocolateBEGIN39rank/position

Two bottles and chocolate BEGIN Ishigaki Daini Junior High School

Shifting away from the Okinawan sound, this track takes on a stylish jazz vibe.

Still, it retains the warmth of Okinawan music, making it undoubtedly a masterpiece.

It might be a song born precisely from the connections between Okinawa and the United States.

Me for youBEGIN40rank/position

BEGIN / Mee Faai Yu

This song, brimming with BEGIN’s warmth, conveys a heartfelt “thank you” to someone embarking on a new journey.

Titled in the Yaeyama dialect, it rides on the gentle tones of the sanshin, delivering gratitude and cheers for the future that resonate directly with the heart.

Concrete imagery—like the road to the airport—captures the bittersweetness of parting while also portraying the bright, celebratory feeling of a send-off.

Released as a single in February 2007, the track movingly colored the story as the theme song for the film “Koishikute.” It is also included on the album “OKINAWAN FULL ORCHESTRA.” Perfect for moments of farewell—such as graduations or job transfers—it expresses feelings that are hard to put into words.

An ideal song for sharing warmth at just the right moment.

Yugafu IslandBEGIN41rank/position

Begin Yugafu Island

A perfect song for when you want to look back on your memories of Okinawa.

Not only do beautifully blooming flowers and the deep blue sea gently come to mind, but the leisurely flow of the sanshin also slows the passage of time.

It’s a track you’ll want to listen to on a quiet beach.

Our Wonderful WorldBEGIN42rank/position

BEGIN / Our Wonderful World

When I start to question living, listening to this song makes me feel that being alive is wonderful.

It helps me rediscover the good parts of the world.

It’s a song that lifts my spirits and makes me feel positive when I’m discouraged or going through something unpleasant.