Ritsuko Okazaki (岡崎律子, December 29 1959 - May 5 2004) was a Japanese compos… Read Full Bio ↴Ritsuko Okazaki (岡崎律子, December 29 1959 - May 5 2004) was a Japanese composer and singer-songwriter. She is best known for her contributions to the animated series Magical Princess Minky Momo, Love Hina, Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu and Sister Princess RePure, as well as other series such as UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie, Stratos 4, Okusama ha Mahou Shôjo, as one half of the duo Melocure (メロキュア). Okazaki's songs were characterized by poetic imagery, depth of emotion, gentle optimism and simplicity. Her voice was considered to be of a particularly remarkable litheness and subtlety. For these reasons, some describe her voice as "angelic".

Okazaki was born in Nagasaki but her family moved to Tokyo when she was in third grade. As a high school student, she formed a band with two classmates called Eleanor (エレナー), in which she played piano and sang backup vocals. It was at this time she began writing original songs. She began her professional career in 1985 composing music for TV programs and commercials as well as for other singers under a variety of names, the most frequently used being Ritsu ("Ritz") Morino (森野律). She debuted as a solo artist in 1993 with the single "Kanashii jiyû" (悲しい自由) followed shortly by her first album, "Sincerely yours,". She spent much of the 1990s creating solo works. Around 2000 until her death, her career became profoundly more focused on music for animated series. To this end, in 2001 she teamed up with singer-songwriter Megumi Hinata (日向めぐみ) to form Melocure, a project that produced music for a variety of series.

In the spring of 2003, Okazaki discovered she had stomach cancer. This information was not announced to the public at the time and she continued to pursue her professional activities to the best of her ability. On May 5, 2004, she passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from septic shock. She was 44 years old. Her album "For RITZ", which was in production when she passed, was completed with what voice recordings were available (some were only preliminary) and released as a tribute.

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長崎県西彼杵郡高島町（現長崎市）端島出身。高校一年の時に同期生2人とバンド「エレナー」を結成し、3人で音楽活動を始める。当時の担当はピアノ、コーラスだった。

音楽業界に入った後に「森野律」などの名義でコマーシャル音楽などを手がけたり、アーティストに楽曲を提供していた。OVA『1月にはChristmas』主題歌「冬のないカレンダー」で、歌手の「岡崎律子」としてトーラスレコード（その後、会社自体がポリグラム（現在はユニバーサルミュージック）に編入された）からデビュー、晩年はスターチャイルドに移籍した。テレビアニメ『魔法のプリンセスミンキーモモ』イメージソング「4月の雪」「約束」を担当。歌手活動と並行して、ラジオやエッセイなどで活躍したり、アニメ・ゲーム作品や声優の曲を数多く手がけている。日向めぐみとのユニット「メロキュア」も、広く注目を得る。ヤマハ音楽教室のピアノ・エレクトーン教室の音楽教材にも、曲をいくつか提供しており、音楽教室の生徒向け教材CDに収録されている。

2004年5月5日に敗血症性ショックのため死去。44歳没。

その死後、2003年春にスキルス胃がんを発病して、闘病生活を送りつつ創作活動を続けていたことが明らかになった。交流のあった芸能関係者以外では一部の例外を除き、親族の意向により墓所は一般公表されていない。遺作となった『for RITZ』は、制作途中であったため、発表時には冥福を祈る意味でタイトルが変更された。同アルバムには、本番収録が間に合わずテスト状態で収録された曲もある。

Magie
岡崎律子 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

未来はあなたの心を映す鏡
知らず知らず"予言"になってる

そうと決めた日から動きだしてるはず
うかつな言葉に気をつけて

誰も知らない愛が
私を変えていく

それは夢？いいえ
愛のMystery

運命はもう決まっているのかしら
でもどこへだって行ける気がする

見えない力は確かにあるはず
ここぞって瞬間（とき）に感じるでしょう

だれも知らない愛が
ココロをも解き放つ
それは夢じゃない
愛のMystery

誰も知らない愛が
私を変えていく
それは夢？いいえ
愛のMystery

この愛が心をも変えていく

それは夢じゃない
愛のMystery

Overall Meaning

The song Magie by 岡崎律子 explores the concept of love as a mystery that has the power to change a person's heart and bring about unforeseen changes in their life's trajectory. The lyrics suggest that the future reflects one's heart and that one's thoughts can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The singer urges caution with one's words and attentiveness to one's heart, as love has the power to change people in ways they do not expect.

The singer describes a hidden love that is changing her, but that is not merely a dream. She acknowledges the existence of unseen forces and implies that fate may be predetermined, yet she still feels a sense of agency and the ability to go anywhere. This hidden love is freeing her heart and releasing her from its previous constraints, as if love is the answer to a secret held within.

The lyrics of Magie highlight the power of love as an unseen force that has the ability to change people's hearts and lives in ways they don't fully comprehend.

Line by Line Meaning

未来はあなたの心を映す鏡
Like a mirror, the future reflects your heart.

知らず知らず"予言"になってる
Unknowingly, it becomes like a prophecy.

そうと決めた日から動きだしてるはず
From the day you decided, you should start moving.

うかつな言葉に気をつけて
Be careful not to say things carelessly.

誰も知らない愛が
A love that no one knows

私を変えていく
Will change me.

それは夢？いいえ
Is it a dream? No,

愛のMystery
It's the mystery of love.

運命はもう決まっているのかしら
I wonder if destiny is already decided?

でもどこへだって行ける気がする
But I feel like I can go anywhere.

見えない力は確かにあるはず
Surely, there is an invisible power.