FictionJunction

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FictionJunction
FictionJunction at Anime Expo 2012, (front row: l-to-r): Wakana, Yuriko Kaida, Yuki Kajiura, Keiko, Kaori
FictionJunction at Anime Expo 2012, (front row: l-to-r): Wakana, Yuriko Kaida, Yuki Kajiura, Keiko, Kaori
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop, Baroque pop
Years active2008–present
LabelsVictor Entertainment
(2009 - 2018)
(2018-present)
Flying Dog
Associated acts
Websitehttp://fictionjunction.com
Members
Past members

FictionJunction is a singing group that solely performs songs written by Japanese composer Yuki Kajiura. The term "FictionJunction" alone refers to this group; solo works between Kajiura and a vocalist are referenced by adding the singer's name after "FictionJunction". Although both perform under the FJ title and are collaborations with Kajiura, they are separate projects.

Background[]

Yuki Kajiura had been working on various soundtracks, including one for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. In 2003, she released the solo album, Fiction.[1] In 2004, she hired vocalist Yuuka Nanri to sing on some of her tracks, including "Chariot of Dawn (暁の車)" which became a hit. In 2005, she added vocalists Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, and Wakana Ootaki, who each have their own project.[1]

Kajiura does not consider the group to have "members". At Anime Expo 2012, she said: "To be honest, FictionJunction is not a 'group.' FictionJunction is just me. Well, actually, it depends on the music and the song. We have gathered several members and singers from everywhere. We don't have 'member' members. I *am* FictionJunction. But I am 'collecting' all the singers that are powerful and worthy to be in this group. They are true professionals, each individual here. I respect them, and I do look up to them. They have the most beautiful voices, and that's how they're selected."[2]

Personnel[]

With the exception of Yuriko Kaida, each vocalist has had her own FictionJunction pre-title. Each vocalist's work is considered an individual project.[1] Some of Yuki Kajiura's vocalists now go by a capitalized names (e.g. Kaori Oda went by FictionJunction Kaori, but now goes by KAORI). At Anime Expo 2012, Kajiura brought vocalists Kaori, Keiko, Wakana and Yuriko Kaida to represent FictionJunction.[2][3]

Yuuka Nanri (南里 侑香, Nanri Yūka, born March 13, 1984), as FictionJunction Yuuka, is Kajiura’s first, longest and best-known collaboration under the FictionJunction name, starting in 2004.[1] The project was originally titled "FictionJunction featuring Yuuka", but the "featuring" part was later dropped to shorten the name.[4] So far, they have released several singles and two full-length albums. Yuuka can also be heard in the soundtrack for Madlax.
Kaori Oda (織田かおり, Oda Kaori, born May 5, 1988) joined the FictionJunction project in 2005.[1] The duo performed two insert songs, "Tsubasa" and "dream scape", which were used in Tsubasa Chronicle. "Calling" was chosen as the ending for the anime series Baccano! and "Hanamori no Oka" (花守の丘, "Hill of the Flower Guardian"), was used in Hokuto no Ken: Toki Den.
Keiko Kubota (窪田啓子, Kubota Keiko, born December 5, 1985) joined FictionJunction project in 2005.[1] "Kaze no Machi e" (風の街へ, "To the City of Wind") was used as an insert song in episodes 19 and 21 of Tsubasa Chronicle, and "Nohara" (野原, "Field") was the B-side for the FictionJunction single "Toki no Mukou, Maboroshi no Sora". Kubota was also a member of Kajiura's singing group Kalafina.
  • FictionJunction Wakana
Wakana Ootaki (大滝若奈, Ōtaki Wakana, born December 10, 1984) joined the FictionJunction project in 2005.[1] They performed two songs for the original soundtrack of Fist of the North Star True Saviour Legend: "Hikari no Yukue" (光の行方, "Where the Lights Are") and the Japanese version of "Where the Lights Are" bonus track.[5] She sang "Paradise Regained" (an insert song for El Cazador de la Bruja) and in the Pandora Hearts soundtrack. Ootaki is also a member of Kalafina.
  • Yuriko Kaida
Yuriko Kaida (貝田由里子, Kaida Yuriko) first collaborated with Kajiura for the Noir anime soundtrack, in which she sang the songs that helped launched Kajiura's career: "canta per me," "salva nos" and "lullaby." Since then Yuriko Kaida has provided vocals for many of Kajiura’s works, mainly as background chorus. Kaida became a main FictionJunction vocalist until 2009, upon the release of the album "Everlasting Songs" and the single "Parallel Hearts", lending her voice to “here we stand in the morning dew” and “Himitsu” in "Everlasting Songs" and providing vocals throughout the album. She is the only vocalist in FictionJunction that uses her full name on stage.
Asuka Kato (加藤あすか, Katō Asuka, born August 28, 1981) performed "Everlasting Song", an insert song from anime series Elemental Gelade. Originally sung in English, "Everlasting Song" was re-recorded in Japanese and released as a single in 2005. It reached #53 on the Oricon weekly chart and remained ranked for 3 weeks. Kato is working on her solo projects as Aira Yūki.

Other collaborations and groupings[]

  • LiSA: She collaborated with the group for the song "From the Edge" under the name FictionJunction feat. LiSA.
  • Joelle joined FictionJunction for their 2019 concert of music from the Princess Principal anime television series.[6]

Musicians[]

  • Yuki Kajiura – piano, vocals
  • Koichi Korenaga (是永巧一, Korenaga Kōichi) – guitar[7][8][9]
  • Kyoichi Sato (佐藤強一, Sato Kyoichi) – drums[7][8][9]
  • Tomoharu "Jr" Takahashi (高橋“Jr.”知治, Takahashi "Jr." Tomoharu) – bass guitar[7][8][9]
  • Hitoshi Konno (今野 均, Konno Hitoshi) – violin[8][10]
  • Yoshio Ohira (大平佳男, Ōhira Yoshio) – manipulator (sound engineer)[7][8][9]

Albums[]

For FictionJunction YUUKA discography, see FictionJunction Yuuka § Discography.

Everlasting Songs[]

Everlasting Songs
Studio album by
FictionJunction
ReleasedFebruary 25, 2009 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
''Everlasting Songs''
(2009) 		FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live
(2010)

Everlasting Songs, announced November 20, 2008,[11] features all FictionJunction vocalists: Yuuka, Keiko, Wakana, Kaori, Asuka, and Yuriko Kaida. It was released on February 25, 2009.[12]

Track listing[13][14][15]

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

CD (VTCL-60106)
No.TitleVocalist(s)Length
1."Hoshikuzu (星屑, Stardust)" (Self cover of "Velvet no Inori" from The Velveteen Rabbit)Kaori, Keiko
Original: Noriko Ogawa		 
2."Kioku no Mori (記憶の森, Forest of Memories)" ((Tsubasa Chronicle OAD: Shunraiki)[12])Yuuka 
3."Dream Scape" (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle insert song)Kaori 
4."Gin no Hashi (銀の橋, Silver Bridge)" (Aquarian Age character image song)Wakana, Keiko, Kaori
Original: Minami Omi		 
5."Kaze no Machi e (風の街へ, To the Windy City)" (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle insert song)Keiko 
6."Here We Stand in the Morning Dew"Yuriko Kaida
Original: Saeko Chiba		 
7."Synchronicity" (Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations song, Arrangement by )Keiko
Original: Yui Makino		 
8."Hanamori no Oka (花守の丘, Hill of the Flower Guardian)" (Hokuto no Ken: Toki Den insert song)Kaori 
9."Mizu no Akashi (水の証, Evidence of Water)" (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed insert song)Wakana
Original: Rie Tanaka		 
10."Cazador del amor" (El Cazador de la Bruja insert song)Yuuka 
11."Himitsu (秘密, Secret)" (Noir)Yuriko Kaida
Original: Aya Hisakawa		 
12."Hōseki (宝石, Jewel)" (Le Portrait de Petit Cossette)Keiko
Original: Marina Inoue		 
13."Yume no Tsubasa (ユメノツバサ, Wings of Dream)" (Tsubasa Chronicle)Kaori
Original: Yui Makino		 
14."Michiyuki (みちゆき, Going Down the Road)" (Loveless)Kaori
Original: 		 
15."Everlasting Song" (Elemental Gelade)Asuka 

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Albums 27 10,427 4 weeks

FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live[]

FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live
Live album by
FictionJunction
ReleasedMay 12, 2010 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
Everlasting Songs
(2009) 		''FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live''
(2010) 		Elemental
(2014)

The album contains recordings from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2: 5. Tracks 1-4 on Disc 1 are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2. Tracks 5-8 are from Yuki Kajiura LIVE Vol.#3. Tracks 9-11 (FictionJunction Yuuka) and tracks 12-14 (FictionJunction) are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009. The whole tracks of Disc 2 are new performances that have never been heard on DVDs and are from Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#5: Japanese Seal SP Live. Hikaru of Kalafina and Yuriko Kaida performed the chorus in tracks 9-11 on Disc 1.

Track listing

Disc 1

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

CD1 (VTCL-60201)
No.TitleLength
1."The World" (.hack//Sign) 
2."Vanity" 
3."Liminality" (.hack//Liminality) 
4."In the Land of Twilight, Under the Moon" (.hack//Sign) 
5."Forest" (El Cazador de la Bruja) 
6."Winter" 
7."Salva Nos" (Noir) 
8."Seiya" 
9."Akatsuki no Kuruma" (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed) 
10."Nowhere" (Madlax) 
11."Yakusoku" 
12."Hanamori no Oka" (Hokuto no Ken: Toki Den) 
13."Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts) 
14."Everlasting Song" (Elemental Gelade) 

Disc 2

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

CD2 (VTCL-60201)
No.TitleContentLength
1."Cynical World" (.hack//Sign)  
2."The Image Theme of Xenosaga II" (Xenosaga II)  
3."Voyagers" ()  
4."Key of the Twilight" (.hack//Sign)  
5."L.A" (El Cazador de la Bruja)  
6."Everytime You Kissed Me" (Pandora Hearts)  
7."Aquarian Age Medley"1. Darklore
2. Awake
3. Zodiacal Sign		 
8."Mai-Hime/Mai Otome Medley"1. Himeboshi (媛星, Princess Star)
2. Mezame (目覚め, Awaking)
3. Materialise
4. Sei Otome no Inori (聖乙女の祈り, Prayer of the Holy Maiden)		 
9."I Reach for the Sun" (El Cazador de la Bruja)  
10."Open Your Heart" (.hack//Sign)  
11."Farewell Song" (Noir)  

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Albums 23 4,211 3 weeks

Elemental[]

Elemental
Studio album by
FictionJunction
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2014 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live
(2010) 		''Elemental''
(2014)

Elemental, FictionJunction's second studio album, features Yuuka, Keiko, Wakana, Kaori, and Yuriko Kaida. It was released on January 22, 2014.[16]

Track listing [16]

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

CD (VTCL-60361)
No.TitleVocalist(s)Length
1."elemental"Kaori 
2."storytelling"Kaori 
3."Hitorigoto (ひとりごと, Monologue)"Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 
4."Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora (時の向こう　幻の空, The Sky of Illusions Beyond Time)" (Ookami Kakushi opening theme)Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 
5."Hitomi no Chikara (ひとみのちから, The Power of Our Eyes)"Yuuka 
6."storm" (Mai-Otome Zwei OVA 2nd Ending Theme)Wakana, Keiko
Original: Ami Koshimizu		 
7."eternal blue" (PSP Game Senritsu no Stratus Opening Theme)Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 
8."stone cold" (Sacred Seven opening theme)Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 
9."Nohara (野原, Field)"Keiko 
10."Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts opening theme)Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 
11."gaika (凱歌, Victory Song)"Wakana 
12."Yakusoku (約束, Promise)"Yuuka 
13."Distance" ( ending theme)Wakana, Kaori, Keiko, Yuriko Kaida 

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Albums 12 5 weeks

Singles[]

"Parallel Hearts"[]

"Parallel Hearts" is a single featuring Yuriko Kaida, Keiko, Kaori and Wakana under the name FictionJunction. The title track was used as opening theme song for the anime television series Pandora Hearts.
Catalog Number

VTCL - 35065
Track listing.[17]
  1. "Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts Opening Theme)
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko, Wakana, Yuriko Kaida
  2. "Hitomi no Chikara" (ひとみのちから, "Strength of the Eyes")
  3. "Parallel Hearts: Instrumental"
  4. "Hitomi no Chikara: Instrumental"

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Singles 20 14,546 12 weeks

"Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora"[]

"Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora" is FictionJunction's second single. The title track was used as opening theme song for the anime television series Ōkami Kakushi.[18]

Track listing
  1. "Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora" (時の向こう 幻の空, "sky of illusions beyond time")
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko, Wakana, Yuriko Kaida
  2. "Nohara" (野原, "field")
    • Vocalist: Keiko
  3. "Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora: Instrumental"
  4. "Nohara: Instrumental"

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Singles 19 9,952 8 weeks

"stone cold"[]

"stone cold" is FictionJunction's third single, released August 3, 2011. The title track was used as opening theme song for the anime television series Sacred Seven.[19]

Track listing
  1. "stone cold" (Sacred Seven Opening Theme)
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko, Wakana, Yuriko Kaida
  2. "Hitorigoto" (ひとりごと, "soliloquy")
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko
  3. "stone cold -Instrumental-"
  4. "Hitorigoto -Instrumental-"

Charts

Chart Peak
position 		Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Singles[20] 16 12,444 9 weeks

"Distance"[]

"Distance" is FictionJunction's fourth single. The title track was used as ending theme song for the HD remastered edition of the anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. The single was paired with the track "eternal blue", which was used as opening theme song for the PSP game Senritsu no Stratus.[21][22]

Track listing
  1. "Distance"
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko, Wakana, Yuriko Kaida
  2. "eternal blue"
    • Vocalists: Kaori, Keiko, Wakana, Yuriko Kaida
  3. "Distance -Instrumental-"
  4. "eternal blue -Instrumental-"

Live DVDs[]

Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31[]

Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31
Video by
FictionJunction
ReleasedDecember 24, 2008 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
''Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31''
(2008) 		FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009
(2009)

Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 is Yuki Kajiura’s first live concert released on DVD. It features the vocals of FictionJunction and guest vocalist Eri Itō.

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

DVD (VTBL-2)
No.TitleLength
1."The World" 
2."Dream Scape" 
3."Vanity" 
4."Liminality" 
5."In the Land of Twilight, Under the Moon" 
6."The Main Theme of Petit Cossette" 
7."Houseki" 
8."Fake Wings" 
9."Himeboshi" 
10."Mezame" 
11."You Are My Love" 
12."Godsibb" 
13."A Song of Storm and Fire" 
14."Canta Per Me" 
15."Salva Nos" 
16."Zodiacal Sign" 
17."Open Your Heart" 
18."Everlasting Song" 
19."Yume no Tsubasa" 
20."Ring Your Song" 

FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009[]

FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009
Video by
FictionJunction Yuuka
ReleasedOctober 21, 2009 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction Yuuka chronology
Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2
(2008) 		''FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009''
(2009) 		FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009
(2009)

FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 features FictionJunction Yuuka (Yuuka Nanri) as main vocalist, and Yuriko Kaida and Hikaru Masai on chorus. The limited edition comes with a photo booklet and PV version of "Nostalgia". The DVD reached #49 on the Oricon charts and remained in the rankings for 2 weeks.

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

DVD (VTBL-7)
No.TitleLength
1."Circus" 
2."Aikoi" 
3."Silly-Go-Round" 
4."Honoo no Tobira" 
5."Yorokobi" 
6."Nostalgia" 
7."Kouya Ruten" 
8."Piano" 
9."Akatsuki no Kuruma" 
10."Cazador del Amor" 
11."Kioku no Mori" 
12."Nowhere" 
13."Yakusoku" 
14."[BGM] Inside Your Heart" 
15."Angel Gate" 

FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009[]

FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009
Video by
FictionJunction
ReleasedDecember 23, 2009 (Japan)
LabelVictor Entertainment
ProducerYuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009
(2009) 		''FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009''
(2009)

FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 features the vocals of FictionJunction (Wakana Ootaki, Keiko Kubota, Kaori Oda, and Yuriko Kaida). The limited edition comes with a photo booklet and the PV version of "Parallel Hearts".

All tracks are written by Yuki Kajiura.

DVD (VTBL-8)
No.TitleLength
1."Hoshikuzu" 
2."Here We Stand in the Morning Dew" 
3."Gin no Hashi" 
4."Hanamori no Oka" 
5."Houseki" 
6."Synchronicity" 
7."Mizu no Akashi" 
8."Michiyuki" 
9."Mezame" 
10."Salva Nos" 
11."Zodical Sign" 
12."Parallel Hearts" 
13."Everlasting Song" (Encore) 
14."Yume no Tsubasa" 
15."Angel Gate" (with Yuuka & Hikaru) 
16."[BGM] Everlasting Song" 

Others[]

FictionJunction sang a cover of "Gatherway" for the album Harvest, which was arranged by Kajiura and their live guitarist Koichi Korenaga.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "FictionJunction｜プロフィール｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Yuki Kajiura / FictionJunction Focus Panel - Anime Expo 2012". Anime News Network. June 30, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "Canta-per-me.net: Yuki's Vocalists". Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  4. ^ Yuki Kajiura's 2004/02/19 diary entry — She wrote: "前はfeaturingが入っていたんですが、長いので止めました……" (translation: "Previously, 'featuring' was included (in the name), but as it was long it was cut......")
  5. ^ "FictionJunction News" (in Japanese). FictionJunction.com. February 21, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  6. ^ "Joelle Official Web".
  7. ^ a b c d "【FJS】『FictionJunction Station Fan Club Talk & Live vol.#1』公演チケット[大阪公演【2次】受付]のお知らせ - FictionJunction".
  8. ^ a b c d e "Canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite » Yuki's Musicians".
  9. ^ a b c d "Yuki Kajiura LIVE Vol.#7 "FICTION" - FictionJunction".
  10. ^ "Live - FictionJunction".
  11. ^ Yuki Kajiura Announced the new FictionJunction Album
  12. ^ a b http://www.fictionjunction.com/ 2009/02、FictionJunction名義での初アルバム、「everlasting songs」がリリースされます。今までサントラ等に収録されたFJ名義曲、楽曲提供曲のセルフカヴァー等の他、YUUKAが歌うOVA [ツバサ　春雷記] のED、「記憶の森」も収録されます。
  13. ^ Comment and Liner Notes by Yuki Kajiura
  14. ^ FictionJunction｜Everlasting Songs｜@Victor Entertainment
  15. ^ canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite  » FictionJunction - Everlasting Songs
  16. ^ a b canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite  » FictionJunction - Elemental
  17. ^ axive - Parallel Hearts Single Track listing http://www.axive.jp/index.php/archives/2777
  18. ^ FictionJunction to sing for Ookami Kakushi http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Information/A022369.html
  19. ^ 〜24:00. "FictionJunction｜インフォメーション｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved February 19, 2014.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Stone cold | 梶浦由記".
  21. ^ "FictionJunction｜「機動戦士ガンダムSEED HDリマスター」エンディングテーマ Distance ／ KONAMI「戦律のストラタス」主題歌 eternal blue｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  22. ^ "戦律のストラタス". Konami.jp. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  23. ^ "勇者シリーズ20周年記念｜勇者シリーズ２０周年記念 HARVEST｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2014.

External links[]

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