Maon Kurosaki began her singing career in Akihabara at the performance venue and bar Dear Stage, where she had been singing since at least January 2008. Music producer Akihiro Tomita noticed her singing talent, and he subsequently became her producer when she made her major debut signed to Geneon Universal Entertainment. Kurosaki first announced her major debut to her fans in January 2010. Her first music release was her debut album H.O.T.D. on September 22, 2010, which contains the ending theme songs used in the 2010 anime series Highschool of the Dead. To commemorate the album and the broadcast of the anime, she performed songs from the album once a week at Deer Stage from July 7 to September 22, 2010. Another event to commemorate the album was held at Animate in Yokohama on October 16, 2010.
Her debut single "Magic∞World" was released on November 24, 2010, and she performed at Deer Stage on that day to commemorate the release. Kurosaki's second single "Memories Last" (メモリーズ・ラスト?) was released on March 2, 2011. Both "Magic∞World" and "Memories Last" were used as ending theme songs to the 2010 anime series Toaru Majutsu no Index II. Kurosaki had her first solo live event called "Maon Kurosaki Live 2011 Spring: Memories First" on March 4–5, 2011 in Harajuku. She made her North American debut at Anime Expo 2011 in Los Angeles, California where she performed on July 1 and July 3. She released the mini-album Goshiki Uta: Immortal Lovers on August 10, 2011, which contains the ending theme songs used in the 2011 original video animation series Hakuōki Sekkaroku. She made her first appearance at the 2011 Animelo Summer Live on August 28. Kurosaki released her second studio album Butterfly Effect on November 30, 2011. In 2011, Kurosaki formed the band Altima with Move's Mototaka "Motsu" Segawa and fripSide's Satoshi "Sat" Yaginuma. Kurosaki released three more singles in 2012: "Hell:ium" on May 9, "Reimei" (黎鳴?) on August 8, and "Under / Shaft" on October 17. "Reimei" is used as the opening theme for the 2012 Hakuōki Reimeiroku anime series, and "Under / Shaft" is used as the opening theme for the 2012 Jormungand: Perfect Order anime series.
Before she had her major debut, Kurosaki posed as a gravure model for the cover of Yūsaku Kitano's novel Maid Road Reload sold on April 26, 2010 by ASCII Media Works under their Media Works Bunko imprint. Kurosaki has been a regular host for the Thursday broadcast of the radio program A&G Artist Zone 2h since October 7, 2010.
Kurosaki's music was influenced by her love of anime and lolita fashion. Her songs have been featured in various anime series such as Jormungand, Tokyo Ravens, and The Fruit of Grisaia. She collaborated with artists such as Mami Kawada, Kotoko, and Trustrick for her music releases. She performed twice at Anime Expo 2011 in Los Angeles, California, and was a regular performer at Japanese anime events such as LisAni, Animelo Summer Live, and Animax Musix. She also appeared at Anime Festival Asia, Bangkok Comic Con, and CharaExpo. From 2011 to 2016, she was singer of the synthpop band Altima, together with Motsu of the band Move.
She died on February 16, 2023 following a period of declining health, after being diagnosed with an epidural hematoma in 2021.
On September 22, 2023, the day Kurosaki had debuted, a memorial event had been held with the name Maon Kurosaki Memorial Days Event "Future & Past", at Shirokane Takanawa Selene.
On September 30, 2023, a crowdfunding project was launched by Art One Entertainment to finish the documentary Maon Kurosaki: The Movie "If You Become Me That Day", which was scheduled to be released in Q2 2023, but was left in a state of uncertainty after Kurosaki's death. The documentary was aiming to follow the artist's path from the collapse in 2021, to the reemergence with the live event in July 31, 2022. To provide an insight into the film, a trailer was also released with the crowdfunding announcement, which was originally suggested by Kurosaki herself during a production meeting for the documentary.
Under/Shaft
Maon Kurosaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ready move? Ready move?
Stand by yaaa A-ha!
5.4.3.2.1.ZERO go ahead!)
火照るグリップ 硬直のビジョン
吐き気がするのMidnight
額に銃口 向けて
眠れ世界 焦燥
愚か者Dreamlike疑うわ
抱き合うよBlack＆White
僕らは、何を夢見てた?
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by! (1...)
This gunshot
reminds me the judgement day,
tonight!
'cause I loathe people like you!
偽りの青空を 破って
誰しも生まれ 死ぬだけなら
Only one 毀(こわ)したい
崩壊と生きていく 明日を
止まない 黒煙の雨
そこに僕は立ってる
不条理な憂鬱と
舐め合うIdentity
Where is god? 愛は口実
醜い地上に堕(おと)された
天使と悪魔のRhapsody
僕ら、傍観者じゃない
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by! (1...)
This gunshot
reminds me the judgement day,
tonight!
'cause I loathe people like you!
綺麗事なんて 聴き飽きたわ
撃ちのめしたい太陽
Only knows 在るべき場所へ
都合のいい弾-タマ-には ならない
忘れた日はない
戦い続ける理由を
ほんの少しでも 優しくなれたら
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by!
I am UNDER/SHAFT! (again...)
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by! (1...)
This gunshot
reminds me the judgement day,
tonight!
'cause I loathe people like you!
偽りの青空を 破って
誰しも生まれ 死ぬだけなら
Only one 信じたい
崩壊から生まれる 明日を
You ready? Brace yourself!
「I am UNDER/SHAFT」
The lyrics to "UNDER/SHAFT" by Maon Kurosaki are quite complex and intense, containing themes of violence, rebellion, and the search for meaning in a chaotic and oppressive world. The song opens with a countdown and the sounds of gunfire, setting the tone for an urgent and militant call to action. The verses describe a sense of desperation and hopelessness, with images of hot grips, rigid vision, and nausea, as well as a gun pointed at the forehead. The chorus then explodes into a passionate and defiant declaration against those who propagate false ideals and values, channeling the anger and frustration of many young people struggling to find their place in society.
The second verse builds on these themes, with references to black smoke, irrational depression, and conflicting identities. The line "where is god?" highlights the spiritual crisis of the singer, while the phrase "angels and devils' rhapsody" suggests a struggle between good and evil forces. Once again, the chorus serves as a rallying cry for those who refuse to be passive bystanders or victims of an unjust system. The bridge adds a hopeful note, expressing a desire for even a small amount of kindness and gentleness amid the ongoing battle. The final repetition of "I am UNDER/SHAFT" reinforces the idea that the singer is part of a powerful and united force for change.
Line by Line Meaning
(Baby, you know?)
Addressing the listener informally
(Ready move? Ready move?
Stand by yaaa A-ha!
5.4.3.2.1.ZERO go ahead!)
Preparing to move into action
火照るグリップ 硬直のビジョン
Grip is heated, vision is stiff
吐き気がするのMidnight
Feeling nauseous at midnight
額に銃口 向けて
Gun barrel aimed at forehead
眠れ世界 焦燥
Anxiousness in a sleepless world
Where is god? 出口は無い
God is nowhere to be found, no way out
愚か者Dreamlike疑うわ
Doubting foolish dreamlike thoughts
抱き合うよBlack＆White
Black and white embracing each other
僕らは、何を夢見てた?
What were we dreaming of?
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by! (1...)
This gunshot
reminds me the judgement day,
tonight!
Preparing to face the consequences of an action
'cause I loathe people like you!
Disliking people of a certain type
偽りの青空を 破って
Breaking the deceptive blue sky
誰しも生まれ 死ぬだけなら
Only one 毀(こわ)したい
If everyone is just born to die, only one thing is desired
崩壊と生きていく 明日を
Living with the collapse of tomorrow
止まない 黒煙の雨
そこに僕は立ってる
Standing amidst the unending rain of black smoke
不条理な憂鬱と
舐め合うIdentity
Licking each other's irrational melancholy identity
Where is god? 愛は口実
醜い地上に堕(おと)された
天使と悪魔のRhapsody
God is nowhere to be found, love is just an excuse, fallen to the ugly earth, a rhapsody of angels and demons
僕ら、傍観者じゃない
We are not just bystanders
綺麗事なんて 聴き飽きたわ
Tired of listening to pretty words
撃ちのめしたい太陽
Wanting to shoot down the sun
Only knows 在るべき場所へ
都合のいい弾-タマ-には ならない
Only knows the place to be, cannot become a convenient bullet
忘れた日はない
戦い続ける理由を
ほんの少しでも 優しくなれたら
Not forgetting a single day, finding a reason to keep fighting, even if just a little bit kinder
I am UNDER/SHAFT! (again...)
Ready! (3...)
Right now! (2...)
Stand by! (1...)
This gunshot
reminds me the judgement day,
tonight!
Asserting identity and preparing for judgement day again
'cause I loathe people like you!
Disliking people of a certain type
偽りの青空を 破って
Breaking the deceptive blue sky
誰しも生まれ 死ぬだけなら
Only one 信じたい
崩壊から生まれる 明日を
If everyone is just born to die, only one thing is believed, a tomorrow born from collapse
You ready? Brace yourself!
Asking if the listener is ready to face something difficult
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kurosaki Maon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neeeeero
この歌を初めて聴いた時に、
「なんてカッコよくて力強い歌声なんだ…！」
と感じると同時に、影もあり、もっと奥にチカラを秘めているような雰囲気があり、、鳥肌が立ちました！
未だにヘビロテしている曲です！
これからも たくさんの楽曲を生み出し、貴女の歌声で「真の音」を聴かせて欲しかった…！
今まで沢山の苦労や苦悩もあったでしょうけれど、貴女の歌に勇気や元気をもらう方も多いはずです！
そしてそれは歌として残る事でこの先も。
改めてお疲れ様でした。
残して下さった貴女の歌声を
私たちは今後も伝えていきます
ゆっくりお休みください
@user-ls3iu3ww2q
ヨルムンガンドは僕の青春を彩る作品でした。ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
@user-qs7bd8iq8c
子さしさ
@user-umineco
🥺今知りました。有り難う👃
@user-cs9me8mb3v
残念です…ご冥福をお祈りします
@rr-us3vv
yahooニュースで知りました。
ヨルムンガンドでこの曲を知って大学時代毎日リピートしてました..
二度と生の声を聴けることがないと思うと残念ですが、天国でゆっくり休んでください。
ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
@anusu_zei
お悔やみ申し上げます。
大好きなこの曲を生で聴けなかったのが心残りです。
@Mayohamu0204
信じられません…
今まで本当にカッコいい曲を残してくださってありがとうございました。
安らかにお休みください。
@SpecJack15
R.I.P Kurosaki-san, I really love your songs and you never fail to amaze us. Go reunite with Sayaka-san :')
@user-zi4gf1ef6x
アニメもこの歌もずっと大好きです
ご冥福をお祈りいたします
@nora7528
アニメもこの曲も素晴らしかった オリガもそうだけど残念でならない