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Kalafina

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Kalafina
The three vocalists of Kalafina at Japan Expo 2014. From Left: Hikaru, Keiko, Wakana.
The three vocalists of Kalafina at Japan Expo 2014. From Left: Hikaru, Keiko, Wakana.
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2007–2019, 2024–present
Labels
Members
Past membersMaya
Websitewww.kalafina.jp

Kalafina (カラフィナ) is a Japanese vocal group formed by composer Yuki Kajiura in 2007, mainly to perform theme songs for the anime The Garden of Sinners, but later expanded to include many other theme songs for other anime shows and films including the Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Black Butler, The Heroic Legend of Arslan and Fate/stay night franchises. They released five albums that have charted in the top 10 for Oricon. Kalafina disbanded in 2019, but regrouped on October 3, 2024.[2]

History

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The group first appeared in January 2008 with two original members from Yuki Kajiura's FictionJunction project, Wakana Ōtaki and Keiko Kubota, whose membership was not confirmed until the first Dream Port 2008 concert held on April 29, 2008. In May 2008, it was announced that two more vocalists, Maya Toyoshima and Hikaru Masai, would be added to the project. Kalafina moved to the Sacra Music record label under Sony Music Entertainment Japan in April 2017.[3] In 2009, Toyoshima left the group, resulting in a trio. In an interview with the group at Anime Central, the concept of Kalafina differs from FictionJunction in that Kajiura does not perform on stage with the singers, but serves as an off-stage producer and songwriter.[4]

With Yuki Kajiura leaving her agency Space Craft Produce in 2018, news agency Oricon reported that the group was expected to continue even with Kajiura leaving.[5][6][7] Space Craft has further announced that concerts and 10th anniversary film's plans would still move forward.[8][9] Despite the band being expected to disband in spring,[10] Space Craft reported to the official fan club that only one member will leave Kalafina.[11][12][13] Although rumors said that Hikaru would leave the group, Sports Hochi reported that the member that would leave the group was Keiko, and that official news about who was leaving the group would be announced at the end of March 2018.[14] It was confirmed on April 13, 2018 on Kalafina Lineblog that Keiko had officially left the group as of April 1, 2018.[15] Following this, Hikaru left the agency as of October 20, 2018, although she did not state that she left the group. Finally, on March 13, 2019, Space Craft announced Kalafina's break up.[16][17]

On October 3, 2024, Keiko, Wakana, and Hikaru announced that they have reunited due to fan support, with a concert planned for their anniversary on January 15, 2025 in Tokyo Garden Theater with Satoshi Takebe as their music producer.[2] On the same day when the reunion was announced, Yuki Kajiura revealed that she had not been informed beforehand and wrote, "I think that from now on, everyone in Kalafina has decided to leave me as their producer and to walk their own path as a new Kalafina without my knowledge."[18]

Members

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Kalafina performing in Mexico

Main vocalists

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  • Keiko (ケイコ, born December 5, 1985): Like Wakana, she is also a member of Kajiura's FictionJunction project and worked alongside her under the name FictionJunction KEIKO. She officially left the group in April 2018.[19] She hails from the Shibuya area in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to FictionJunction and Kalafina, she was in a rock vocal duo called Itokubo. Space Craft describes her singing as a "captivating bass voice".[20] In 2020, she is working on a solo album with Avex Trax.[21]
  • Wakana (ワカナ, born December 10, 1984) : She is also a member of FictionJunction and previously collaborated with Yuki Kajiura as FictionJunction WAKANA.[22] She moved from Space Craft to Victor Entertainment in 2019, and has released two solo albums and an EP.[23][24]
  • Maya Toyoshima (豊島摩耶 Toyoshima Maya): Was selected in an audition held by Sony Music Japan. She sang on the single "Sprinter/Aria". She left the group in 2009.[19]
  • Hikaru (ヒカル, born July 2, 1987): Was selected along with Maya in an audition held by Sony Music Japan. She officially left Space Craft on October 20, 2018 after her contract expired.[19] She is from Toyama Prefecture.[25] In 2020, she is pursuing a solo career under the name H-el-ical//[21][26]

Supporting

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  • Yuki Kajiura: The primary composer and arranger of Kalafina's songs. Kajiura left the group upon her departure from Space Craft Produce.[8]
  • REMI (田中玲美 Tanaka Remi, born January 6, 1977): Background vocalist.
  • Yuriko Kaida (貝田由里子 Kaida Yuriko, born November 1): Background vocalist, she was part of FictionJunction's group of singers.
  • Hanae Tomaru (戸丸華江, Tomaru Hanae): Background vocalist.

Discography

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Main article: Kalafina discography

Studio albums

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Other albums

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  • 2008: Re/oblivious (EP)
  • 2013: Kalafina 5th Anniversary LIVE SELECTION 2009-2012 (live)
  • 2014: The Best "Red" (compilation)
  • 2014: The Best "Blue" (compilation)
  • 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" (acoustic)
  • 2018: Kalafina All Time Best 2008-2018

References

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  1. ^ "Kalafina's Album Enters Oricon's Weekly Chart At Top 2 Spot, Asian Tour Confirmed!". Korea Portal. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Murakami, Yukimasa. "19年解散「Kalafina」復活 ３人組、唯一無二ハーモニー ファンの思いに決意の再集結 - 音楽 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  3. ^ "ソニー、新レーベル『SACRA MUSIC』4月発足 Kalafina、ClariSら擁し海外展開". Oricon. January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  4. ^ "Kalafina: An Interview". 27 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Anime Music Composer Yuki Kajiura Leaves Agency After 25 Years". Anime News Network. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  6. ^ "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. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  7. ^ "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". sponichi.co.jp. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Singing Unit Kalafina to Continue After Producer Yuki Kajiura's Departure". Anime News Network. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Kalafina、プロデューサー梶浦氏退社後も活動継続". oricon.co.jp. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Kalafina disbanding at the end of Spring | ARAMA! JAPAN". ARAMA! JAPAN. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Singing Unit Kalafina's Agency Confirms 1 Member Will Leave". Anime News Network. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "システムメンテナンスのお知らせ". kalafina-fc-harmony.jp. March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  13. ^ "Kalafina Harmony Fanclub Message(Translate from the official site of Kalafina Harmony Fanclub)". Facebook. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  14. ^ "「Ｋａｌａｆｉｎａ」脱退メンバーはＫｅｉｋｏ 今秋予定のＣＤ＆ツアーは白紙に". Sports Hochi. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  15. ^ "『Staffからのお知らせ』". Kalafina Official Lineblog. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Harmony会員の皆様へお知らせ". Kalafina Harmony Official Fans Club. March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Kalafinaの解散について". Space Craft Agency. March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "梶浦由記氏、Kalafina再集結にコメント「公演に一切関与しておらず」 決別と激励の思いも記す". October 3, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Bunshun: Kalafina Members Want to Get Back Together". Anime News Network. 27 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Space Craft Group". spacecraft.co.jp.
  21. ^ a b "Former Kalafina Member Keiko Kubota Resumes Singing Career". Anime News Network. 27 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Space Craft Group". spacecraft.co.jp.
  23. ^ "Wakanaの作品". ORICON NEWS.
  24. ^ "Wakana | DISCOGRAPHY". www.jvcmusic.co.jp.
  25. ^ "Space Craft Group". spacecraft.co.jp.
  26. ^ "Gleipnir Anime Reveals Cast, More Staff, Theme Song Artist". Anime News Network. 27 May 2023.
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