ALI PROJECT is a Japanese music duo well known for their strong Gothic Loli… Read Full Bio ↴ALI PROJECT is a Japanese music duo well known for their strong Gothic Lolita image and various opening and ending themes of famous Anime shows such as Rozen Maiden, Code Geass or .hack/Roots.
The duo consists of Arika Takarano (real name: Ari Hironaga, born 28th September 1963 in Kumamoto, Japan, vocals & lyrics) and Mikiya Katakura (born 1st August in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan, music).
Never listed as official members, but always mentioned in the albums' booklets, violinists Yu Sugino and Tuyoshi Watanabe are a vital part of this duo.

Katakura met Takarano in 1985 when he just graduated from music school and was looking for a singer. As ARI PUROJEKKUTO, they released their first song Sakura no Hana ha Kuruizaki on a compilation CD named Rebel Street IV ~Some Girls one year later. Their first album Gensou Teien was released in 1988.
However, they made their major debut in 1992 as ALI PROJECT.

In the late 90s, they decided to shift their artistry to a much darker direction which Takarano referred to as a switch from Shiro Ari to Kuro Ari, they stick to the Kuro Ari concept ever since.

ALI PROJECT makes music regularly to this date which is generally highly influenced by Classical music, yet Katakura's love for experimenting is obvious. He makes heavy use of synthesizers and likes to intergrate key elements from other, often contemporary music styles and genres such as Rock, Metal, Hip Hop or even Drum 'n' Bass.
Their music's distinct sound is driven by a well-made mix of synthetic and organic, always complemented by Takarano's highly complex lyrics and clean vocals.
They developed a signature sound for Anime related work though.

冬物語
ALI PROJECT Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

冬の道に咲いた花
ふたり　歩いた頃は
気づかずに
通り過ぎていたでしょう

Why are you leaving？
呼び止めてくれる人もなく
What will I live for？

抱きしめる
遠い優しさよ
木枯らしが少しずつ
あなたの夢を
奪ってゆくの

あの日　落ち葉踏みながら
靴のほこり気にして
別れの言葉も　あなた
少なげで

Why are you leaving？
問いかけることさえできずに
What will I live for？
街は雪
時が止まるよう
その腕を　はぐれたままでは
どこにも
帰れないのよ

今はそっと眠っている
春が目覚めたら
私　あなたの幸せを
きっと願えるから

Why are you leaving？
あの頃につづく道はなく
What will I live for？
抱きしめる
遠い愛しさよ
いつまでも
私の心はあなたを
探しているの

Why are you leaving？
追いかけることさえできずに
What will I live for？
雪の中
愛は埋もれても
ふたりには

忘れなきゃならないことは
何もないはず

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of ALI PROJECT’s “Fuyu Monogatari” (Winter Story) expresses a love that was once cherished and now lost. The first verse speaks of a flower that bloomed along the path in winter, a season with a bleak ambiance. The singer reminisces about the past, about a time when she walked with someone dear to her without noticing the flower on the side of the road. The second and third section are her lament towards the person that left her: “Why are you leaving?”, “What will I live for?”. The singer pleads with the person, hoping that he or she would stay. She admits that the sadness will last forever but promises to wish the person the best when the time comes. The final verse then recounts the message of the story, that even if things may be buried and buried deep by the snow, there will always be things that we cannot forget.

The lyrics is a perfect blend of imagery and emotion, both melancholic and romantic. It showcases the depth of emotions felt when one loses a loved one, and the helplessness that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

冬の道に咲いた花
A flower bloomed on the winter road

ふたり　歩いた頃は
At the time when we walked together

気づかずに
Without realizing

通り過ぎていたでしょう
We probably went past it

Why are you leaving？
Why are you leaving?

呼び止めてくれる人もなく
With nobody calling out to stop you

What will I live for？
What reason do I have for living?

抱きしめる
Embrace

遠い優しさよ
A distant tenderness

木枯らしが少しずつ
The cold, wintry wind gradually

あなたの夢を
Steals away your dreams