FictionJunction is a singing group from Tokyo, Japan, that solely performs … Read Full Bio ↴FictionJunction is a singing group from Tokyo, Japan, that solely performs songs written by Japanese composer Yuki Kajiura (梶浦由記). 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. FictionJunction songs have been featured in anime series such as Gundam Seed, Ookami Kakushi, and most recently Sacred Seven. As of August 2013 there are five vocalists: Kaori Oda, Keiko Kubota, Wakana Ootaki, Yuuka Nanri and Yuriko Kaida. Their concerts are typically titled "Yuki Kajiura Live" and include a backing band with Kajiura herself on keyboard.

Each member is credited with her own project name, except for Yuriko Kaida. They are presented in alphabetical order:

FictionJunction Kaori, with vocalist Kaori Oda (織田かおり). 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.

FictionJunction Keiko, with vocalist Keiko Kubota (窪田啓子). "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". Vocalist Keiko Kubota is a member of Kalafina, another singing group created by Kajiura.

FictionJunction Wakana, with vocalist: Wakana Ootaki (大滝若菜). 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. FJ Wakana sang "Paradise Regained" (an insert song for El Cazador de la Bruja) and in the Pandora Hearts soundtrack. Vocalist Wakana Ootaki is also involved in Kalafina.

FictionJunction Yuuka, with vocalist: Yuuka Nanri (南里侑香). Kajiura’s first, longest and best-known collaboration under the FictionJunction name. The project was originally titled "FictionJunction featuring Yuuka", but the "featuring" part was later dropped to shorten the name.[3] So far, they have released several singles and two full-length albums. Yuuka can also be heard in the Madlax OST.

Yuriko Kaida (貝田由里子). She first collaborated with Kajiura for the Noir 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. Yuriko 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.

FictionJunction Asuka, with vocalist Asuka Kato (加藤あすか). 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 number 53 on the Oricon weekly chart and remained ranked for three weeks. As of 2012, Kato is working on her solo projects as Aira Yuhki and is no longer a FictionJunction singer.

Albums:

- "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.

- "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.

約束
FictionJunction Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

こんなに激しい過去と未来、
僕等の進む道
風はもうすぐ嵐になって
夜明けを運ぶ
見捨てた夢だった、子供の頃
秘密の隠れ家に書いて消した
潰えた星の見送り方を
泣きながら覚えた

こんなに激しい過去と未来、
僕等の進む道
自分らしさを演じることに
疲れて眠る
毎日捨てては生まれ変わる
見知らない心を
僕等は自分と呼び続けてる、
そんな約束
また―つ分かれた行き止まりで
変わらぬ運命だと呟いても
分かり合えずに言葉反らした
日々がただ悲しい
あの時泣いてた僕の為に
僕はまだ明日を
最果ての歌のように
甘く信じ続ける
風はもうすぐ嵐になって
未来は降り注ぎ
果たせずに今日も―つ落ちた
遠い約束

こんなに激しい過去と未来、
僕等の進む道
たった一度だけ笑うために
嵐を超えて
約束のない世界がいつか
僕等を呼ぶ頃に
最果ての歌が遠く

甘く聞こえればいい
風の作る道を......

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song 約束 by FictionJunction convey a sense of struggle and determination as one faces the challenges of their past and future while venturing forward. In the face of an upcoming storm, the wind carries the promise of a new dawn, a continuation of the unknown journey they are embarking on. The lyrics express the difficulty of leaving behind childhood dreams and memories, finding comfort in a secret hideaway, and learning to say goodbye to lost dreams. The singer is tired of pretending to be someone they are not and seeks refuge in sleep, hoping for a new self to awaken. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of rebirth and starting anew, as the singer laments over the loss of their former identity to embrace a new, unfamiliar one.

The song 約束 captures the essence of a personal journey, full of trials and tribulations, hope and despair. The singer seeks a world without promises, a liberating space that will welcome them someday but until then, they will keep facing obstacles and moving forward despite the inevitable setbacks. The slow, composed melody gives the lyrics a heartfelt and poignant touch, bringing to life the emotions that the words convey.

Line by Line Meaning

こんなに激しい過去と未来、
Our path is full of a past and future that are intense like this.

僕等の進む道
The path that we are taking.

風はもうすぐ嵐になって
Soon, the wind will become a storm.

夜明けを運ぶ
It brings dawn with it.

見捨てた夢だった、子供の頃
It was a dream that I gave up on back when I was a child.

秘密の隠れ家に書いて消した
I wrote it down in my secret hiding place, then erased it.

潰えた星の見送り方を
The way of saying goodbye to a crushed star.

泣きながら覚えた
I learned it while crying.

自分らしさを演じることに
Tired of acting like myself

疲れて眠る
I sleep exhaustingly.

毎日捨てては生まれ変わる
I throw away every day and am reborn.