FictionJunction
FictionJunction | |
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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 |
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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, each of which has 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]
- 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 is also a member of Kajiura's singing group Kalafina.
- 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
- Main article: FictionJunction Yuuka
- 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 Kato 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 | ||||
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Studio album by FictionJunction | ||||
Released | February 25, 2009 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction chronology | ||||
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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]
All tracks written by Yuki Kajiura.
CD (VTCL-60106) | |||
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No. | Title | Vocalist(s) | Length |
1. | "Hoshikuzu (星屑, Stardust)" (Self cover of "Velvet no Inori" from The Velveteen Rabbit) | Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota Original: Noriko Ogawa |
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2. | "Kioku no Mori (記憶の森, Forest of Memories)" ((Tsubasa Chronicle OAD: Shunraiki)[7]) | Yuuka Nanri | |
3. | "Dream Scape" (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle insert song) | Kaori Oda | |
4. | "Gin no Hashi (銀の橋, Silver Bridge)" (Aquarian Age character image song) | Wakana Ootaki, Keiko Kubota, Kaori Oda Original: Minami Omi |
|
5. | "Kaze no Machi e (風の街へ, To the Windy City)" (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle insert song) | Keiko Kubota | |
6. | "Here We Stand in the Morning Dew" | Yuriko Kaida Original: Saeko Chiba |
|
7. | "Synchronicity" (Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations song, Arrangement by Koichi Korenaga) | Keiko Kubota Original: Yui Makino |
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8. | "Hanamori no Oka (花守の丘, Hill of the Flower Guardian)" (Hokuto no Ken: Toki Den insert song) | Kaori Oda | |
9. | "Mizu no Akashi (水の証, Evidence of Water)" (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed insert song) | Wakana Ootaki Original: Rie Tanaka |
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10. | "Cazador del amor" (El Cazador de la Bruja insert song) | Yuuka Nanri | |
11. | "Himitsu (秘密, Secret)" (Noir) | Yuriko Kaida Original: Aya Hisakawa |
|
12. | "Hōseki (宝石, Jewel)" (Le Portrait de Petit Cossette) | Keiko Kubota Original: Marina Inoue |
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13. | "Yume no Tsubasa (ユメノツバサ, Wings of Dream)" (Tsubasa Chronicle) | Kaori Oda Original: Yui Makino |
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14. | "Michiyuki (みちゆき, Going Down the Road)" (Loveless) | Kaori Oda Original: Kaori Hikita |
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15. | "Everlasting Song" (Elemental Gelade) | Asuka Kato |
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 | ||||
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Live album by FictionJunction | ||||
Released | May 12, 2010 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction chronology | ||||
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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.
CD1 (VTCL-60201) | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
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 written by Yuki Kajiura.
CD2 (VTCL-60201) | |||
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No. | Title | Content | Length |
1. | "Cynical World" (.hack//Sign) | ||
2. | "The Image Theme of Xenosaga II" (Xenosaga II) | ||
3. | "Voyagers" (Keizai Rashinban) | ||
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 |
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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 | ||||
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Studio album by FictionJunction | ||||
Released | January 22, 2014 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction chronology | ||||
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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.
CD (VTCL-60361) | |||
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No. | Title | Vocalist(s) | Length |
1. | "elemental" | Kaori Oda | |
2. | "storytelling" | Kaori Oda | |
3. | "Hitorigoto (ひとりごと, Monologue)" | Wakana Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, 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 Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Yuriko Kaida | |
5. | "Hitomi no Chikara (ひとみのちから, The Power of Our Eyes)" | Yuuka Nanri | |
6. | "storm" (Mai-Otome Zwei OVA 2nd Ending Theme) | Wakana Ootaki, Keiko Kubota Original: Ami Koshimizu |
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7. | "eternal blue" (PSP Game “Senritsu no Stratus” Opening Theme) | Wakana Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Yuriko Kaida | |
8. | "stone cold" (Sacred Seven opening theme) | Wakana Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Yuriko Kaida | |
9. | "Nohara (野原, Field)" | Keiko Kubota | |
10. | "Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts opening theme) | Wakana Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Yuriko Kaida | |
11. | "gaika (凱歌, Victory Song)" | Wakana Ootaki | |
12. | "Yakusoku (約束, Promise)" | Yuuka Nanri | |
13. | "Distance" (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED HD ending theme) | Wakana Ootaki, Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Yuriko Kaida |
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]
- "Parallel Hearts" (Pandora Hearts Opening Theme)
- Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
- "Hitomi no Chikara" (ひとみのちから, "Strength of the Eyes")
- Vocalist: FictionJunction Yuuka (Yuuka Nanri)
- "Parallel Hearts: Instrumental"
- "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
- "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)
- "Nohara" (野原, "field")
- Vocalist: FictionJunction Keiko (Keiko Kubota)
- "Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora: Instrumental"
- "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
- "stone cold" (Sacred Seven Opening Theme)
- Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
- "Hitorigoto" (ひとりごと, "soliloquy")
- Vocalists: FictionJunction Kaori (Kaori Oda), FictionJunction Keiko (Keiko Kubota)
- "stone cold -Instrumental-"
- "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
- "Distance"
- Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
- "eternal blue"
- Vocalists: FictionJunction (Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuriko Kaida)
- "Distance -Instrumental-"
- "eternal blue -Instrumental-"
Zero Tokei
Zero Tokei is the upcoming single of Kaori Oda. The single is scheduled to be released on February 10, 2016 and the title track will used for the upcoming anime based on an otome game, Norn9.
Live DVDs
Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31
Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#2 2008.07.31 | ||||
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Video by FictionJunction | ||||
Released | December 24, 2008 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction chronology | ||||
|
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.
DVD (VTBL-2) | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
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 | ||||
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Video by FictionJunction Yuuka | ||||
Released | October 21, 2009 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction Yuuka chronology | ||||
|
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.
DVD (VTBL-7) | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
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 | ||||
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Video by FictionJunction | ||||
Released | December 23, 2009 (Japan) | |||
Label | Victor Entertainment | |||
Producer | Yuki Kajiura | |||
FictionJunction chronology | ||||
|
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.
DVD (VTBL-8) | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
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 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "FictionJunction|プロフィール|FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- 1 2 "Yuki Kajiura / FictionJunction Focus Panel - Anime Expo 2012". Anime News Network. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canta-per-me.net: Yuki's Vocalists". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ↑ "FictionJunction News" (in Japanese). FictionJunction.com. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- ↑ 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......")
- ↑ Yuki Kajiura Announced the new FictionJunction Album
- 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。
- ↑ Comment and Liner Notes by Yuki Kajiura
- ↑ FictionJunction|Everlasting Songs|@Victor Entertainment
- ↑ canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite » FictionJunction - Everlasting Songs
- 1 2 canta-per-me.net - A Yuki Kajiura Fansite » FictionJunction - Elemental
- ↑ axive - Parallel Hearts Single Track listing http://www.axive.jp/index.php/archives/2777
- ↑ FictionJunction to sing for Ookami Kakushi http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Information/A022369.html
- ↑ 〜24:00. "FictionJunction|インフォメーション|FlyingDog". Jvcmusic.co.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "戦律のストラタス". Konami.jp. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ↑ "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.
External links
- FictionJunction JVC's Official Website (Japanese)
- Official website (Japanese)
- FictionJunction album (Japanese)
- Yuki Kajiura's Official Site in English
- FictionJunction Yuuka Home Page (Japanese)
- Victor Entertainment (Yuki Kajiura) (Japanese)
- Yuki Kajiura at Anime Wiki
- canta-per-me.net: Unofficial Fan Site