Rin' was a Japanese popular music group which combined traditional Japanese instruments and style with elements of modern pop and rock music. It was a female trio of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music alumni who graduated in 2003. The band made their performing debut in December 2003, at Meguro Gajoen, and in April 2004, their first single, called
Sakitama, was released by
Avex Trax.
Arai Chie (新井智恵) and Yoshinaga Mana (吉永真奈) play koto, sangen, and jushichi-gen, while Nagasu Tomoca/Tomoka (長須与佳) plays biwa and shakuhachi. All three perform vocals.
According to the band's website, the name Rin' comes from the English word 'ring', the Japanese word Wa (和, meaning both 'ring' and 'Japanese-style'), and from the trio's hope to create a 'ring', or circle, of music.
Since their debut, the band performed in many venues around the world, and released four singles and several albums. A number of their songs have been used as themes for anime and movies, most notable is
Fuhen used in the
Samurai 7 anime.
Their chief international album, Inland Sea, was released worldwide: in Europe and the United States on April 25, 2006 and in Japan on August 30, 2006, featuring guest performances by Leigh Nash and Lisa Loeb.
According to the band's website, as of February 2009, Rin' put an end to their activities and has decided to disband.
