FictionJunction

Background

Yuki Kajiura had been working on various soundtracks, including one for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. In 2003, she released the solo album, Fiction. 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, each of which has their own project.

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."

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. 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.

Kaori Oda (織田かおり, Oda Kaori, also FictionJunction Kaori, now KAORI) - Born (1988-05-11) May 11, 1988

Oda joined the FictionJunction project in 2005. 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) - Born (1985-12-05) December 5, 1985

Kubota joined the FictionJunction project in 2005. "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 is also a member of Kajiura's singing group Kalafina.

Wakana Ootaki (大滝若奈, Ootaki Wakana, also FictionJunction Wakana, now WAKANA) - Born (1984-12-10) December 10, 1984

Ootaki joined the FictionJunction project in 2005. 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. 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)

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) - Born (1984-03-13) March 13, 1984

FictionJunction Yuuka is Kajiura’s first, longest and best-known collaboration under the FictionJunction name, starting in 2004. The project was originally titled "FictionJunction featuring Yuuka", but the "featuring" part was later dropped to shorten the name. 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, Kato Asuka, also known as FictionJunction Asuka).) - Born (1981-08-28) 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.

Everlasting Songs

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

Track listing

All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.

Charts

FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live

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

Elemental

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

Track listing

All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.

Charts

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.

1. "Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts Opening Theme)
2. Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
3. "Hitomi no Chikara" (ひとみのちから, "Strength of the Eyes")
4. Vocalist: FictionJunction Yuuka (Yuuka Nanri)
5. "Parallel Hearts: Instrumental"
6. "Hitomi no Chikara: Instrumental"

Charts

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.

Track listing

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

Charts

stone cold

"stone cold" is FictionJunction's third single. The title track was used as opening theme song for the anime Sacred Seven.

Track listing

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

Charts

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).

Track listing

1. "Distance"
2. Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
3. "eternal blue"
4. Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
5. "Distance -Instrumental-"
6. "eternal blue -Instrumental-"

Zero Tokei

Zero Tokei is the upcoming single of Kaori Oda. The single was scheduled to be released on February 10, 2016 and the title track will used for the upcoming anime based on an otome game, Norn9.

Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31

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 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 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. They also sang a cover of "Gatherway" for the album HARVEST, which was arranged by Kajiura and their live guitarist Koichi Korenaga.