Yuki Kajiura (梶浦 由記, Kajiura Yuki, born August 6, 1965) is a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer. She has provided the music for several popular anime series, such as Sword Art Online, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, The Garden of Sinners, Pandora Hearts and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Yuki Kajiura 梶浦 由記 | |
|---|---|
 Kajiura at Anime Expo 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 6, 1965 |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels |
|
| Member of | |
| Website | www |
As a composer, Kajiura is known for her unique and distinctive musical motifs and leitmotifs, as well as for her distinctive fusion of contemporary classical music and electronic music.
Biography
editKajiura was born on August 6, 1965, in Tokyo, Japan. She has been into music since 1972 and accompanying her father on the piano. Her family later moved to West Germany because of her father's work. Kajiura wrote her first composition when she was seven years old titled " Thank you, Good-bye" as a farewell for her grandmother before leaving Japan.
Kajiura moved back to Japan when she was in middle school and later graduated from college. She began working as a systems engineering programmer until 1992 that she decided to focus more on music.[1]
In 2002, See-Saw participated in another Mashimo's project, .hack//Sign. During the production of the series, Kajiura met Emily Bindiger and impressed by her vocals, offered her to perform over 10 of the series' insert songs. She has also jokingly called Bindiger "her English teacher" at Anime Expo 2003.[2]
In 2003, Kajiura signed with FlyingDog to form FictionJunction Yuuka with Yūka Nanri. In 2004, the duo produced the opening and ending songs for Kōichi Mashimo's Madlax and in the next year, published their first collaborative album, Destination.
In 2008, Kajiura signed with SME Records to form Kalafina. The group consists of Wakana Ootaki, Keiko Kubota, and Hikaru Masai.
In 2009, Kajiura started a new project called FictionJunction. Unlike FictionJunction Yuuka, vocalists in this project were not fixed. This project involves collaboration with artists such as Wakana Ootaki, Asuka Kato, and Kaori Oda.
In October 2007, it was announced that Yuki Kajiura would be attending the performances of the Eminence Orchestra's concert, 'A Night in Fantasia 2007 – Symphonic Anime Edition', as a special guest.[3]
The 2014 series Aldnoah.Zero's opening theme "Heavenly Blue" was composed by Kajiura and was performed by Kalafina.[4]
In July 2016, Aniplex of America announced that the “Yuki Kajiura LIVE ~featuring SWORD ART ONLINE~” concert that took place in March 2016 in Japan would be having an additional date on January 14, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, but was later canceled due to visa issues.[5]
In December 2017, a source reported to a news site, Sponchi Annex that Kajiura was planning to leave her agency, Spacecraft Produce, over contract disputes. In February 2018, Kajiura herself confirmed via her Twitter that she has officially left her agency.[6][7]
Kajiura has performed internationally at various anime conventions including Anime Expo 2003, Anime Boston 2009 (with Kalafina), Anime Expo 2012 (with FictionJunction), and Anime Expo 2018 (as part of Anisong World Matsuri).[8]
On February 22, 2018, her contract ended with SpaceCraft Produce after being a talent for 25 years.[9] She is now represented by FictionJunction Music, a talent agency she founded herself.
Discography
editSolo albums
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Fiction |
| 2011 | Fiction II |
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2011 | The Works for Soundtrack |
| 2023 | The Works for Soundtrack 2 |
As project member
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | I Have a Dream | See-Saw | Studio |
| 1994 | See-Saw | See-Saw | Studio |
| 1995 | Mata Aeru Kara | See-Saw | Single |
| 2003 | Early Best | See-Saw | Greatest Hits |
| 2003 | Dream Field | See-Saw | Studio |
| 2005 | Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru | See-Saw | Single |
| 2020 | See-Saw Complete Best | See-Saw | Greatest Hits |
| 2004 | Destination | FictionJunction Yuuka | Studio |
| 2005 | Everlasting Song | FictionJunction Asuka | Single |
| 2007 | Circus | FictionJunction Yuuka | Studio |
| 2008 | Dream Port | Revo & Yuki Kajiura | CD & DVD |
| 2008 | Yuki Kajiura Live 2008.07.31 | FictionJunction | Live DVD |
| 2009 | Everlasting Songs | FictionJunction | Studio |
| 2009 | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I ~ Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction Yuuka | Live DVD |
| 2009 | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 PART II ~ Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction | Live DVD |
| 2010 | FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live | FictionJunction | Live |
| 2010 | Animelo Summer Live 2009 RE:BRIDGE 8.23 | FictionJunction/FictionJunction Yuuka | Live DVD |
| 2012 | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni" | Yuki Kajiura/See-Saw | Single |
| 2012 | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Akatsuki no Kuruma" | Yuki Kajiura/FictionJunction Yuuka | Single |
| 2012 | Sing a Song/Silent Moon | FictionJunction | Limited Single |
| 2013 | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Quiet Night" | Yuki Kajiura/Rie Tanaka | Single |
| 2013 | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Destiny Remastered Soundtrack Re Mix "Tears"/"Kimi ha Boku ni Niteiru"/"Life Goes On" | Yuki Kajiura/Lisa Komine/See-Saw/Mika Arisaka | Single |
| 2013 | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part 1&2 Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction/FictionJunction Yuuka | Live Blu-Ray |
| 2013 | Yuki Kajiura ive Vol.#9 “Shibukou Special" | FictionJunction | Live DVD |
| 2014 | Elemental | FictionJunction | Studio |
| 2014 | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#11 FictionJunction Yuuka 2Days Special | FictionJunction Yuuka | Live Blu-Ray |
| 2014 | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#11 Elemental Tour 2014.4.20 @ NHK Hall + Making of Elemental Tour 2014 | FictionJunction | Live Blu-Ray |
| 2015 | FictionJunction 2010-2013 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live 2 | FictionJunction | Live |
| 2020 | Yuki Kajiura Live Tour Vol.#15 “Soundtrack Special at the Amphitheater” | Yuki Kajiura/FictionJunction | Live |
| 2020 | Princess Principal The Live Yuki Kajiura×Void_Chords | Yuki Kajiura×Void_Chords | Live CD/Live Blu-Ray |
| 2023 | Parade | FictionJunction | Studio |
Produced albums
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Melody | Saeko Chiba | Studio |
| 2004 | Everything | Studio | |
| 2008 | Re/oblivious | Kalafina | EP |
| 2009 | Seventh Heaven | Studio | |
| 2010 | Red Moon | Studio | |
| 2011 | After Eden | Studio | |
| 2013 | Consolation | Studio | |
| 2013 | Kalafina 5th Anniversary Live Selection 2009-2012 | Live | |
| 2014 | The Best "Blue" | Greatest Hits | |
| 2014 | The Best "Red" | Greatest Hits | |
| 2015 | Far on the Water | Studio | |
| 2016 | Kalafina 8th Anniversary Special products The Live Album "Kalafina Live Tour 2014" at Tokyo International Forum Hall A | Live | |
| 2016 | Winter Acoustic "Kalafina with Strings" | Studio, Christmas music | |
| 2018 | Kalafina All Time Best 2008-2018 | Greatest Hits |
Other involvements
edit| Genre | Project | Involvement | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anime | Jura Tripper | Ending theme "Sunday Island" by Mariko Kouda [10] | 1995 |
| Anime | Mobile Suit Gundam Seed | Closing theme & insert songs | 2002 |
| Anime | Chrono Crusade | Closing theme song (Sayonara Solitaire) | 2003 |
| Game | .hack//Quarantine | Song "Yasashii Yoake" (also used in .hack//Sign) | 2003 |
| Anime | The World of Narue | Closing theme | 2003 |
| Anime | Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny | Closing theme & insert songs | 2004 |
| Anime | .hack//Legend of the Twilight | Closing theme | 2004 |
| Anime | Loveless | Theme song | 2005 |
| Anime | Shōnen Onmyōji | Opening theme song | 2006 |
| Anime | .hack//Roots | Opening theme song | 2006 |
| Anime | Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto | Opening theme song | 2006 |
| Anime | My-Otome Zwei | Ending theme songs 2–3 | 2007 |
| Anime | Baccano! | Ending Theme song "Calling" featuring Kaori Oda [11] | 2007 |
| Anime | Amatsuki | Ending Theme song | 2008 |
| TV drama | Negima (Live Action) | Ending Theme song | 2008 |
| Anime | Kuroshitsuji | Ending Theme Song "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina [12] | 2008 |
| Documentary | Unknown Episodes of History – Historia | Soundtrack[13] | 2009 |
| Anime | So Ra No Wo To | Opening Theme song | 2010 |
| Anime | Ōkami Kakushi | Theme song | 2010 |
| Anime | Eve no Jikan | Ending Theme Song | 2010 |
| Game | Nobunaga's Ambition | Theme song | 2010 |
| Anime | Kuroshitsuji II | Insert theme song | 2010 |
| Game | .hack//Link | Previously written songs contributed: Edge, (from .hack//Liminality Volume 1: In the Case of Mai Minase) Obsession from .hack//Sign and Silly-Go-Round. (from .hack//Roots) | 2010 |
| Documentary | Unknown Episodes of History – Historia 2 | Soundtrack | 2011 |
| Anime | Sacred Seven | Opening theme song | 2011 |
| Game | Senritsu no Stratus | Opening theme song | 2011 |
| Anime | Fate/Zero | Opening theme song, Ending theme song | 2011 |
| Anime | Aldnoah.Zero | Opening theme song | 2014 |
| Anime | Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works | Guest Composer, Ending theme song | 2014 |
| Anime | The Heroic Legend of Arslan | Ending theme song | 2015 |
| Anime | Erased | Ending theme song | 2016 |
| Anime | The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance | Ending theme song | 2016 |
| Anime | Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower | Theme song | 2017 |
| Anime | Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly | Theme song | 2019 |
| Music | JAM Project song “To the Next Era” | Composition and arrangement | 2020 |
| Anime | Deemo: Memorial Keys | Theme song composition, arrangement and lyrics | 2022 |
Works
editAnime
edit| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning | 1996 | Osamu Kobayashi |
| Eat-Man | 1997 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| Noir | 2001 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| Aquarian Age | 2002 | Yoshimitsu Ohashi |
| .hack//Sign | 2002 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| .hack//Liminality | 2002 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| Le Portrait de Petit Cossette | 2004 | Akiyuki Shinbo |
| Madlax | 2004 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| My-HiME | 2004 | Masakazu Obara |
| My-Otome | 2005 | Masakazu Obara |
| Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle | 2005–2006 | Kōichi Mashimo Hiroshi Morioka |
| Elemental Gelade | 2005 | Shigeru Ueda |
| My-Otome Zwei | 2006 | Masakazu Obara |
| Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior | 2007 | Toyoo Ashida |
| El Cazador de la Bruja | 2007 | Kōichi Mashimo |
| Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations | 2007–2008 | Shunsuke Tada |
| Tsubasa Shunraiki | 2009 | Shunsuke Tada |
| Pandora Hearts | 2009 | Takao Kato |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica | 2011 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| Fate/Zero | 2011–2012 | Ei Aoki |
| Sword Art Online | 2012 | Tomohiko Itō |
| Sword Art Online II | 2014 | Tomohiko Itō |
| Erased | 2016 | Tomohiko Itō |
| Zaregoto | 2016–2017 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yuki Yase |
| Princess Principal | 2017 | Masaki Tachibana |
| Sword Art Online: Alicization | 2018–2020 | Manabu Ono |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | 2019 | Haruo Sotozaki |
| The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note | 2019 | Makoto Katō |
| The Case Study of Vanitas | 2021 | Tomoyuki Itamura |
| Fena: Pirate Princess | 2021 | Kazuto Nakazawa |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc | 2021 | Haruo Sotozaki |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc | 2023 | Haruo Sotozaki |
Anime films
edit| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Movie: Princess in Birdcage Kingdom | 2005 | Itsuro Kawasaki |
| The Garden of Sinners | 2007–2009, 2013 | Ei Aoki Takuya Nonaka Mitsuru Oburai Tomonori Sudō |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings | 2012 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: Eternal | 2012 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion | 2013 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| Sword Art Online: Extra Edition | 2013 | Tomohiko Itō |
| L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties | 2016 | Guo Jingming |
| Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale | 2017 | Tomohiko Itō |
| Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower | 2017 | Tomonori Sudō |
| Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly | 2019 | Tomonori Sudō |
| Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel III. spring song | 2020 | Tomonori Sudō |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train | 2020 | Haruo Sotozaki |
| Princess Principal: Crown Handler | 2021 | Masaki Tachibana |
| Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night | 2021 | Ayako Kōno |
| Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night | 2022 | Ayako Kōno |
| Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising | 2025 | Akiyuki Shinbo Yukihiro Miyamoto |
| Eisen Flügel | TBA | Seiji Mizushima Daizen Komatsuda |
Video games
edit| Title | Platform | Year | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cast | PlayStation | 1998 | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Meguri-aishite | PlayStation | 1999 | SME |
| Blood: The Last Vampire | PlayStation 2 | 2000 | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse (movie scenes) | PlayStation 2 | 2004 | Namco |
| Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra | PlayStation 2 | 2006 | Namco |
Television dramas
edit| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| 15 Sai no Shiganhei | 2010 |
| Hanako to Anne | 2014[14] |
| Eien no Nispa | 2019 |
| Anti-Hero | 2024 |
Live-action films
edit| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo-Kyodai | 1995 | Jun Ichikawa |
| Ruby Fruit | 1995 | Takumi Kimiduka |
| Rainbow | 1999 | Naoto Kumazawa |
| Boogiepop and Others | 2000 | Ryu Kaneda |
| Moon | 2000 | Takumi Kimiduka |
| Achilles and the Tortoise | 2008 | Takeshi Kitano[15] |
Musicals
edit| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Sakura-Wars | 1998 |
| Fine | 1998 |
| Funk-a-Step | 1998 |
| Funk-a-Step II | 1999 |
| Christmas Juliette | 1999–2000 |
| High-School Revolution | 2000 |
| Christmas Juliette | 2000 |
| Shooting-Star Lullaby | 2001 |
| Love's Labour's Lost/Set | 2002 |
| Angel Gate | 2006 |
References
edit- ^ "Yuki Kajiura Biography". Biography. Canta-Per-Me.net. January 26, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura Concert". Anime Source. Anime-Source.Com. September 25, 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
- ^ "AU: Eminence Orchestra Returns to Sydney!". IGN Music. IGN Entertainment, Inc. October 10, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
- ^ "DISCOGRAPHY｜Kalafina OFFICIAL WEBSITE". www.sonymusic.co.jp. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 2, 2016). "Yuki Kajiura to Hold Sword Art Online-Themed Concert in Hollywood in January". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ^ "アニメ業界で事務所トラブル 梶浦由記氏退社、カラフィナも活動休止へ 20億円超の打撃". sponichi.co.jp. December 23, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "アニメ音楽界のカリスマ・梶浦由記氏事務所退社、「カラフィナ」活動は白紙". スポニチ Sponichi Annex. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Pineda Antonio, Rafael (February 21, 2018). "Anime Music Composer Yuki Kajiura Leaves Agency After 25 Years". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Sunday Island. Canta-Per-Me.net, Yuki Kajiura Discography. March 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Calling performed by Kaori Oda. Canta-Per-Me.net, Yuki Kajiura Discography. May 31, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Lacrimosa performed by Kalafina (in Japanese). FictionJunction.com, Yuki Kajiura Official Website. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Casting Profile (in Japanese). NHK, Japanese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
- ^ 連続テレビ小説 (in Japanese). NHK, Japanese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ Berra, John, ed. (2010). Directory of World Cinema: Japan. Intellect Books. p. 10. ISBN 9781841503356.
External links
edit
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Yuki Kajiura discography at VGMdb
- Yuki Kajiura at IMDb
- Yuki Kajiura at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Yuki Kajiura convention appearances on AnimeCons.com