FictionJunction

FictionJunction
Yuki Kajiura (center) and FictionJunction at Anime Expo 2012
Background information
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres J-pop, Baroque pop
Years active 2008–present
Labels Victor Entertainment
Space Craft Group
Flying Dog
Associated acts Sound Horizon
Kalafina
Yuki Kajiura
Website http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/fj
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 the following four vocalists to represent FictionJunction.[2]

  • Kaori Oda (織田かおり, Oda Kaori, also FictionJunction Kaori, now KAORI[1])[3] - Born May 11, 1988
Oda 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, also FictionJunction Keiko, now KEIKO[1])[3] - Born December 5, 1985
Kubota joined the 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 until April 2018.
  • Wakana Ootaki (大滝若奈, Ootaki Wakana, also FictionJunction Wakana, now WAKANA[1])[3] - Born December 10, 1984
Ootaki 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.[4] 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 (貝田由里子, Kaida Yuriko) - (Born November 1)[3]
Yuriko Kaida 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.

Other collaborations and groupings

  • Yuuka Nanri (南里 侑香, Nanri Yūka)[3] - Born March 13, 1984
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.[5] So far, they have released several singles and two full-length albums. Yuuka can also be heard in the soundtrack for Madlax.
  • Asuka Kato (加藤あすか, Katō Asuka, also known as FictionJunction Asuka).[3]) - Born August 28, 1981
They 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 Yuhki.

Albums

Everlasting Songs

Everlasting Songs
Studio album by FictionJunction
Released February 25, 2009 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
Everlasting Songs FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura LiveString Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found

Everlasting Songs, announced November 20, 2008,[6] features all FictionJunction vocalists: Yuuka, Keiko, Wakana, Kaori, Asuka, and Yuriko Kaida. It was released on February 25, 2009.[7]

Track listing[8][9][10]

All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.

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
Released May 12, 2010 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
Everlasting SongsString Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live ElementalString Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found

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 written by Yuki Kajiura.

Disc 2

All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.

Charts

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

Elemental

Elemental
Studio album by FictionJunction
Released January 22, 2014 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura LiveString Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found Elemental

Elemental, FictionJunction's second studio album, features Yuuka, Keiko, Wakana, Kaori, and Yuriko Kaida. It was released on January 22, 2014.[11]

Track listing [11]

All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.

Charts

Chart Peak
position		 Sales Time in
chart

Singles

Parallel Hearts

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

VTCL - 35065
Track listing.[12]
  1. "Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts Opening Theme)
    • Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, 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 Ookami Kakushi.[13]

Track listing
  1. "Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora" (時の向こう 幻の空, "sky of illusions beyond time")
    • Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
  2. "Nohara" (野原, "field")
    • Vocalist: FictionJunction Keiko (Keiko Kubota)
  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. The title track was used as opening theme song for the anime Sacred Seven.[14]

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

Charts

Chart Peak
position		 Sales Time in
chart
Oricon Weekly Singles 16 12,444 7 weeks

Distance

"Distance" is FictionJunction's fourth single. The title track was used as ending theme song for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED HD remastered edition. "eternal blue" was used as opening theme song for the PSP game 戦律のストラタス (Senritsu no Stratus).[15]

Track listing
  1. "Distance"
    • Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
  2. "eternal blue"
    • Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, 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
Released December 24, 2008 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31 FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009String Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found

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 written by Yuki Kajiura.

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
Released October 21, 2009 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction Yuuka chronology
Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31String Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009String Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found

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 written by Yuki Kajiura.

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
Released December 23, 2009 (Japan)
Label Victor Entertainment
Producer Yuki Kajiura
FictionJunction chronology
FictionJunction Yuuka: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I: Everlasting Songs Tour 2009String Module Error: Match not foundString Module Error: Match not found FictionJunction: Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part II: Everlasting Songs Tour 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 written by Yuki Kajiura.

Others

FictionJunction performed the Main Theme song for the PSP game 戦律のストラタス (Senritsu no Stratus), entitled "Eternal Blue" and written by Yuki Kajiura.[16] They also sang a cover of "Gatherway" for the album HARVEST, which was arranged by Kajiura and their live guitarist Koichi Korenaga.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "FictionJunction｜プロフィール｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  2. 1 2 "Yuki Kajiura / FictionJunction Focus Panel - Anime Expo 2012". Anime News Network. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canta-per-me.net: Yuki's Vocalists". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  4. ↑ "FictionJunction News" (in Japanese). FictionJunction.com. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  5. ↑ 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......")
  6. ↑ Yuki Kajiura Announced the new FictionJunction Album
  7. 1 2 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。
  8. ↑ Comment and Liner Notes by Yuki Kajiura
  9. ↑ FictionJunction｜Everlasting Songs｜@Victor Entertainment
  10. ↑ canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite » FictionJunction - Everlasting Songs
  11. 1 2 canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite » FictionJunction - Elemental
  12. ↑ axive - Parallel Hearts Single Track listing http://www.axive.jp/index.php/archives/2777
  13. ↑ FictionJunction to sing for Ookami Kakushi http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Information/A022369.html
  14. ↑ 〜24:00. "FictionJunction｜インフォメーション｜FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  15. ↑ "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 2014-02-19.
  16. ↑ "戦律のストラタス". Konami.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  17. ↑ "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. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
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