Hajimari no Umi
| "Hajimari no Umi" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Limited edition cover | ||||
| Single by Maaya Sakamoto | ||||
| from the album Follow Me Up | ||||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| B-side | "Itsumo no Tokoro de" | |||
| Released | July 31, 2013 | |||
| Studio | Victor Studio[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:58 | |||
| Label | FlyingDog | |||
| Songwriter | Taeko Onuki | |||
| Producer | Maaya Sakamoto | |||
| Maaya Sakamoto singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Hajimari no Umi" on YouTube | ||||
"Hajimari no Umi" (はじまりの海; lit. 'Sea of Beginnings') is a song by Japanese singer and voice actress Maaya Sakamoto, released as her twenty-second single on July 31, 2013, by FlyingDog.
Background and release
"Hajimari no Umi" was written and composed by musician Taeko Onuki, and was commissioned to be the opening theme for the television anime Tamayura: More Aggressive.[2][3] During production, Sakamoto suggested Taeko Onuki's involvement to reflect a nostalgic atmosphere fitting the work's worldview. Initially, Onuki was planned only for composition, but at her own request, she also took on the lyrics.[4] Admittedly not an anime follower, Onuki commented receiving the request for this song, she watched Tamayura and ended up becoming a fan, praising its literary quality.[5] Her concept for the song originated from wondering about how the town of Takehara was like, and the photographs taken by Fū Sawatari, the series protagonist.[5]
The single was released in two formats: a limited first-press edition with a bonus DVD, and the standard CD-only edition.[3]
The b-sides included on the single include "Itsumo no Tokoro," composed and arranged by Katsutoshi Kitagawa (Round Table), and an acoustic version of "Okaerinasai," her 2011 single that served as an insert song for the same anime.[3] As a bonus track, it also includes a live medley from Sakamoto's Live 2013 "Roots of SSW" tour, recorded at the Tokyo Bunkamura Orchard Hall.[3]
Critical reception
Writing for Intoxicate magazine, music writer Wataru Mizukami wrote praised "Hajimari no Umi" for its embodiment of "high-quality, timeless Japanese pop."[6] Mizukami highlighted the exceptional chemistry between Sakamoto and Onuki, noting that their "individual essences blend into a comfortable harmony" far exceeding expectations, with the track's relaxed tempo evoking "serene, sunlit days" that "gently warms the listener's heart."[6] The song was lauded for its "unchanging, standard quality that never fades, no matter the years," positioning it as a modern successor to city pop traditions.[6] The single's overall package was celebrated for its "mini-album-level value," particularly the inclusion of the acoustic version of Matsutoya's previous Tamayura theme song —arranged by Shigeharu Sasago— and the ten-minute live medley, while the '80s aesthetic extending to the jacket art further enhanced its nostalgic appeal.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hajimari no Umi" (はじまりの海) | Taeko Onuki | Onuki | Toshiyuki Mori | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Itsumo no Tokoro de" (いつものところで) | Maaya Sakamoto | Katsutoshi Kitagawa | Kitagawa | 4:25 |
| 3. | "Okaerinasai" (おかえりなさい) (acoustic ver.) | Yumi Matsutoya | Matsutoya | Shigeharu Sasago | 5:37 |
| 4. | "Medley (Roots of SSW)[a]" | Shin Kono | 14:06 | ||
| Total length: | 28:06 | ||||
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.[1]
- Maaya Sakamoto – vocals, backing vocals, production
- Taeko Onuki – backing vocals
- Tatsuo Hayashi – drums
- Masato Suzuki – bass
- Hirokazu Ogura – guitar
- Lenny Castro – shaker
- Nobumasa Yamada – recording & mixing engineering
- Fumio Miyata – musician coordinator
- Hiroshi Kawasaki – mastering
- Masao Fukuda – A&R direction
- Hideki Kawaguchi – artist management
- Shirō Sasaki – executive production
Notes
- ^ Medley of the following songs: "Magic Number", "Platinum", "Kiseki no Umi", "Yubiwa", "Yakusoku wa Iranai", and "Hikari Are".
References
- ^ a b Sakamoto, Maaya (2013). Hajimari no Umi (CD single). FlyingDog. VTZL-31.
- ^ ""坂本真綾×大貫妙子"待望のコラボシングル！ 『たまゆら～もあぐれっしぶ～』オープニングテーマ「はじまりの海」が7月31日発売！". Animate Times (in Japanese). May 15, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "注目の新譜：坂本真綾「はじまりの海」 1年ぶりのシングルは大貫妙子作詞・作曲のアニメ主題歌 -". Mantanweb (in Japanese). August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Seiyū Grand Prix". No. July 2012. Shufunotomo Co., Ltd. August 2013. p. 102.
- ^ a b "大貫妙子さんからのコメント". Maaya Sakamoto official website. FlyingDog. 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Mizukami, Wataru. "坂本真綾『はじまりの海』". Tower Records. intoxicate vol.105.