"Shimanchu nu Takara" (島人ぬ宝, 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 that begins with "Soredemo Kurashi wa..." is noted as being one of the longest song titles in Japan.[3]
Background and release
During, the 15th year anniversary of the song, Eishō Higa, the bands vocalist, revealed that the song was based on answers of one of their former classmates in Ishigaki Middle High School in 2001 on their thoughts on the island. Originally, the song was made as a "graduation song".[4][5][6] The song features various Okinawan elements such as the use of sanshin and Okinawan way of life.[7][8]
The song was released in May 22, 2002[9] and it was performed in the NHK's 53rd annual Kōhaku Uta Gassen in the same year.[10][11]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Begin, unless otherwise noted
"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")
The song charted in Oricon's Single CD Sales ranking 60 times and peaked at 47th.[9]
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.[12] by Speed member Hiroko Shimabukuro on her solo album Watashi no Okinawa,[13]and, by Beni on her album.Covers 3.[14]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. [15]
On the band's 30th anniversary of the band in 2020, "Shimanchu nu Takara" was sang by various people from Ishigaki Island.[16]
Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Shimanchu nu Takara"
