Yuki Kajiura

Japanese composer (born 1965)

This article is about the Japanese musician, composer, and record producer. For the Japanese football midfielder, see Yuki Kajiura (footballer).

Yuki Kajiura

梶浦 由記

Kajiura at Anime Expo 2018

Background information
Born|  (1965-08-06) August 6, 1965 (age 59)
Origin| Tokyo, Japan
Occupations|

* Composer
* arranger
* music producer

Instruments|

* Piano
* keyboard

Years active| 1992–present
Labels|

* Space Craft Produce (1993–2018)
* FictionJunction Music (2018–present)

Member of|

* See-Saw
* FictionJunction

Website| www.fictionjunction.com

Musical artist

Yuki Kajiura (梶浦 由記, Kajiura Yuki, born August 6, 1965) is a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer. She has provided the music for several popular anime series, such as Sword Art Online, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, The Garden of Sinners, Pandora Hearts and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

As a composer, Kajiura is known for her unique and distinctive musical motifs and leitmotifs, as well as for her distinctive fusion of contemporary classical music and electronic music.

## Biography

[edit]

Kajiura was born on August 6, 1965, in Tokyo, Japan. She has been into music since 1972, accompanying her father on the piano. Her family later moved to West Germany because of her father's work. Kajiura wrote her first composition when she was seven years old titled "Thank you, Good-bye" as a farewell for her grandmother before leaving Japan.

Kajiura moved back to Japan when she was in middle school and later graduated from college. She worked as a systems engineering programmer until 1992, when she decided to focus more on music.[1] In 1993, she joined the group See-Saw with Chiaki Ishikawa.

In 2002, See-Saw created music for the anime .hack//Sign. During the production of the series, Kajiura met Emily Bindiger; impressed by her vocals, Kajiura offered her to perform over 10 of the series' songs. She jokingly called Bindiger "her English teacher" at Anime Expo 2003.[2]

In 2003, Kajiura signed with FlyingDog to form FictionJunction Yuuka with Yūka Nanri. In 2004, the duo produced the opening and ending songs for Madlax. The next year, they published their first collaborative album, Destination.

In 2008, Kajiura signed with SME Records to form Kalafina. The group consists of Wakana Ootaki, Keiko Kubota, and Hikaru Masai.

In 2009, Kajiura started a new project called FictionJunction. Unlike FictionJunction Yuuka, vocalists in this project are not fixed. The project involves collaboration with artists such as Aira Yūki, Kaori Oda, and the members of Kalafina.

In October 2007, it was announced that Yuki Kajiura would be attending the performances of the Eminence Orchestra's concert, 'A Night in Fantasia 2007 – Symphonic Anime Edition', as a special guest.[3]

The 2014 series Aldnoah.Zero's opening theme "Heavenly Blue" was composed by Kajiura and performed by Kalafina.[4]

In July 2016, Aniplex of America announced that the "Yuki Kajiura LIVE ~featuring SWORD ART ONLINE~" concert that took place in March 2016 in Japan would be having an additional date on January 14, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, but it was later canceled due to visa issues.[5]

In December 2017, a source reported to a news site, Sponchi Annex, that Kajiura was planning to leave her agency, Spacecraft Produce, over contract disputes. In February 2018, Kajiura confirmed via Twitter that she left her agency.[6][7][8]

Kajiura has performed internationally at various anime conventions, including Anime Expo 2003, Anime Boston 2009 (with Kalafina), Anime Expo 2012 (with FictionJunction), and Anime Expo 2018 (as part of Anisong World Matsuri).[9]

Kajiura is now represented by FictionJunction Music, a talent agency she founded herself.

## Discography

[edit]

### Solo albums

[edit]

Year  | Title

|

2003  | Fiction
2011  | Fiction II

### Compilation albums

[edit]

Year  | Title

|

2011  | The Works for Soundtrack
2023  | The Works for Soundtrack 2

### As project member

[edit]

Year  | Title | Artist  | Notes

|
|
|

1993  | I Have a Dream | See-Saw | Studio
1994  | See-Saw | See-Saw  | Studio
1995  | Mata Aeru Kara | See-Saw  | Single
2003  | Early Best | See-Saw  | Greatest Hits
2003  | Dream Field | See-Saw  | Studio
2005  | Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru | See-Saw  | Single
2020  | See-Saw Complete Best | See-Saw  | Greatest Hits
2004  | Destination | FictionJunction Yuuka | Studio
2005  | Everlasting Song | FictionJunction Asuka  | Single
2007  | Circus | FictionJunction Yuuka  | Studio
2008  | Dream Port | Revo & Yuki Kajiura  | CD & DVD
2008  | Yuki Kajiura Live 2008.07.31 | FictionJunction | Live DVD
2009  | Everlasting Songs | FictionJunction  | Studio
2009  | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part I ~ Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction Yuuka  | Live DVD
2009  | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 PART II ~ Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction  | Live DVD
2010  | FictionJunction 2008-2010 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live | FictionJunction  | Live
2010  | Animelo Summer Live 2009 RE:BRIDGE 8.23 | FictionJunction/FictionJunction Yuuka  | Live DVD
2012  | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni" | Yuki Kajiura/See-Saw  | Single
2012  | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Akatsuki no Kuruma" | Yuki Kajiura/FictionJunction Yuuka  | Single
2012  | Sing a Song/Silent Moon | FictionJunction  | Limited Single
2013  | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Remastered Soundtrack Re track "Quiet Night" | Yuki Kajiura/Rie Tanaka | Single
2013  | Mobile Suite Gundam SEED Destiny Remastered Soundtrack Re Mix "Tears"/"Kimi ha Boku ni Niteiru"/"Life Goes On" | Yuki Kajiura/Lisa Komine/See-Saw/Mika Arisaka | Single
2013  | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#4 Part 1&2 Everlasting Songs Tour 2009 | FictionJunction/FictionJunction Yuuka  | Live Blu-Ray
2013  | Yuki Kajiura ive Vol.#9 “Shibukou Special" | FictionJunction  | Live DVD
2014  | Elemental | FictionJunction  | Studio
2014  | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#11 FictionJunction Yuuka 2Days Special | FictionJunction Yuuka  | Live Blu-Ray
2014  | Yuki Kajiura Live Vol.#11 Elemental Tour 2014.4.20 @ NHK Hall + Making of Elemental Tour 2014 | FictionJunction  | Live Blu-Ray
2015  | FictionJunction 2010-2013 The Best of Yuki Kajiura Live 2 | FictionJunction  | Live
2020  | Yuki Kajiura Live Tour Vol.#15 “Soundtrack Special at the Amphitheater” | Yuki Kajiura/FictionJunction  | Live
2020  | Princess Principal The Live Yuki Kajiura×Void_Chords | Yuki Kajiura×Void_Chords  | Live CD/Live Blu-Ray
2023  | Parade | FictionJunction  | Studio

### Produced albums

[edit]

Year  | Title | Artist  | Notes

|
|
|

2003  | Melody | Saeko Chiba | Studio
2004  | Everything | Studio
2008  | Re/oblivious | Kalafina | EP
2009  | Seventh Heaven | Studio
2010  | Red Moon | Studio
2011  | After Eden | Studio
2013  | Consolation | Studio
2013  | Kalafina 5th Anniversary Live Selection 2009-2012 | Live
2014  | The Best "Blue" | Greatest Hits
2014  | The Best "Red" | Greatest Hits
2015  | Far on the Water | Studio
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" | Studio, Christmas music
2018  | Kalafina All Time Best 2008-2018 | Greatest Hits

### Other involvements

[edit]

Genre | Project | Involvement | Year

|
|
|

Anime | Jura Tripper | Ending theme "Sunday Island" by Mariko Kouda [10] | 1995
Anime | Mobile Suit Gundam Seed | Closing theme & insert songs | 2002
Anime | Chrono Crusade | Closing theme song (Sayonara Solitaire) | 2003
Game | .hack//Quarantine | Song "Yasashii Yoake" (also used in .hack//Sign) | 2003
Anime | The World of Narue | Closing theme | 2003
Anime | Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny | Closing theme & insert songs | 2004
Anime | .hack//Legend of the Twilight | Closing theme | 2004
Anime | Loveless | Theme song | 2005
Anime | Shōnen Onmyōji | Opening theme song | 2006
Anime | .hack//Roots | Opening theme song | 2006
Anime | Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto | Opening theme song | 2006
Anime | My-Otome Zwei | Ending theme songs 2–3 | 2007
Anime | Baccano! | Ending Theme song "Calling" featuring Kaori Oda [11] | 2007
Anime | Amatsuki | Ending Theme song | 2008
TV drama | Negima (Live Action) | Ending Theme song | 2008
Anime | Kuroshitsuji | Ending Theme Song "Lacrimosa" by Kalafina [12] | 2008
Documentary | Unknown Episodes of History – Historia | Soundtrack[13] | 2009
Anime | So Ra No Wo To | Opening Theme song | 2010
Anime | Ōkami Kakushi | Theme song | 2010
Anime | Eve no Jikan | Ending Theme Song | 2010
Game | Nobunaga's Ambition | Theme song | 2010
Anime | Kuroshitsuji II | Insert theme song | 2010
Game | .hack//Link | Previously written songs contributed: Edge, (from .hack//Liminality Volume 1: In the Case of Mai Minase) Obsession from .hack//Sign and Silly-Go-Round. (from .hack//Roots) | 2010
Documentary | Unknown Episodes of History – Historia 2 | Soundtrack | 2011
Anime | Sacred Seven | Opening theme song | 2011
Game | Senritsu no Stratus | Opening theme song | 2011
Anime | Fate/Zero | Opening theme song, Ending theme song | 2011
Anime | Aldnoah.Zero | Opening theme song | 2014
Anime | Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works | Guest Composer, Ending theme song | 2014
Anime | The Heroic Legend of Arslan | Ending theme song | 2015
Anime | Erased | Ending theme song | 2016
Anime | The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance | Ending theme song | 2016
Anime | Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower | Theme song | 2017
Anime | Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly | Theme song | 2019
Music | JAM Project song “To the Next Era” | Composition and arrangement | 2020
Anime | Deemo: Memorial Keys | Theme song composition, arrangement and lyrics | 2022

## Works

[edit]

### Anime

[edit]

Title | Year | Director

|
|

Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning | 1996 | Osamu Kobayashi
Eat-Man | 1997 | Kōichi Mashimo
Noir | 2001 | Kōichi Mashimo
Aquarian Age | 2002 | Yoshimitsu Ohashi
.hack//Sign | 2002 | Kōichi Mashimo
.hack//Liminality | 2002 | Kōichi Mashimo
Le Portrait de Petit Cossette | 2004 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Madlax | 2004 | Kōichi Mashimo
My-HiME | 2004 | Masakazu Obara
My-Otome | 2005 | Masakazu Obara
Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle | 2005–2006 | Kōichi Mashimo
Hiroshi Morioka
Elemental Gelade | 2005 | Shigeru Ueda
My-Otome Zwei | 2006 | Masakazu Obara
Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior | 2007 | Toyoo Ashida
El Cazador de la Bruja | 2007 | Kōichi Mashimo
Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations | 2007–2008 | Shunsuke Tada
Tsubasa Shunraiki | 2009 | Shunsuke Tada
Pandora Hearts | 2009 | Takao Kato
Puella Magi Madoka Magica | 2011 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Fate/Zero | 2011–2012 | Ei Aoki
Sword Art Online | 2012 | Tomohiko Itō
Sword Art Online II | 2014 | Tomohiko Itō
Erased | 2016 | Tomohiko Itō
Zaregoto | 2016–2017 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yuki Yase
Princess Principal | 2017 | Masaki Tachibana
Sword Art Online: Alicization | 2018–2020 | Manabu Ono
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | 2019 | Haruo Sotozaki
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note | 2019 | Makoto Katō
The Case Study of Vanitas | 2021 | Tomoyuki Itamura
Fena: Pirate Princess | 2021 | Kazuto Nakazawa
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc | 2021 | Haruo Sotozaki
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Swordsmith Village Arc | 2023 | Haruo Sotozaki

### Anime films

[edit]

Title | Year | Director

|
|

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Movie: Princess in Birdcage Kingdom | 2005 | Itsuro Kawasaki
The Garden of Sinners | 2007–2009, 2013 | Ei Aoki
Takuya Nonaka
Mitsuru Oburai
Tomonori Sudō
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings | 2012 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: Eternal | 2012 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion | 2013 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Sword Art Online: Extra Edition | 2013 | Tomohiko Itō
L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties | 2016 | Guo Jingming
Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale | 2017 | Tomohiko Itō
Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower | 2017 | Tomonori Sudō
Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly | 2019 | Tomonori Sudō
Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel III. spring song | 2020 | Tomonori Sudō
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train | 2020 | Haruo Sotozaki
Princess Principal: Crown Handler | 2021 | Masaki Tachibana
Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night | 2021 | Ayako Kōno
Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night | 2022 | Ayako Kōno
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising | 2025 | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto
Eisen Flügel | TBA | Seiji Mizushima
Daizen Komatsuda

### Video games

[edit]

Title | Platform | Year | Company

|
|
|

Double Cast | PlayStation | 1998 | Sony Computer Entertainment
Meguri-aishite | PlayStation | 1999 | SME
Blood: The Last Vampire | PlayStation 2 | 2000 | Sony Computer Entertainment
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse (movie scenes) | PlayStation 2 | 2004 | Namco
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra | PlayStation 2 | 2006 | Namco

### Television dramas

[edit]

Title | Year

|

15 Sai no Shiganhei | 2010
Hanako to Anne | 2014[14]
Eien no Nispa | 2019
Anti-Hero | 2024

### Live-action films

[edit]

Title | Year | Director

|
|

Tokyo-Kyodai | 1995 | Jun Ichikawa
Ruby Fruit | 1995 | Takumi Kimiduka
Rainbow | 1999 | Naoto Kumazawa
Boogiepop and Others | 2000 | Ryu Kaneda
Moon | 2000 | Takumi Kimiduka
Achilles and the Tortoise | 2008 | Takeshi Kitano[15]

### Musicals

[edit]

Title | Year

|

Sakura-Wars | 1998
Fine | 1998
Funk-a-Step | 1998
Funk-a-Step II | 1999
Christmas Juliette | 1999–2000
High-School Revolution | 2000
Christmas Juliette | 2000
Shooting-Star Lullaby | 2001
Love's Labour's Lost/Set | 2002
Angel Gate | 2006

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Yuki Kajiura Biography". Biography. Canta-Per-Me.net. January 26, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
2. ^ "Yuki Kajiura Concert". Anime Source. Anime-Source.Com. September 25, 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
3. ^ "AU: Eminence Orchestra Returns to Sydney!". IGN Music. IGN Entertainment, Inc. October 10, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
4. ^ "DISCOGRAPHY｜Kalafina OFFICIAL WEBSITE". www.sonymusic.co.jp. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
5. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 2, 2016). "Yuki Kajiura to Hold Sword Art Online-Themed Concert in Hollywood in January". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
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. December 23, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 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". スポニチ Sponichi Annex. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
8. ^ Pineda Antonio, Rafael (February 21, 2018). "Anime Music Composer Yuki Kajiura Leaves Agency After 25 Years". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
9. ^ "Yuki Kajiura". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
10. ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Sunday Island. Canta-Per-Me.net, Yuki Kajiura Discography. March 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
11. ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Calling performed by Kaori Oda. Canta-Per-Me.net, Yuki Kajiura Discography. May 31, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
12. ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Lacrimosa performed by Kalafina (in Japanese). FictionJunction.com, Yuki Kajiura Official Website. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
13. ^ "Yuki Kajiura". Casting Profile (in Japanese). NHK, Japanese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
14. ^ 連続テレビ小説 (in Japanese). NHK, Japanese Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
15. ^ Berra, John, ed. (2010). Directory of World Cinema: Japan. Intellect Books. p. 10\. ISBN 9781841503356.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yuki Kajiura.

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Yuki Kajiura discography at VGMdb
* Yuki Kajiura at IMDb
* Yuki Kajiura at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Yuki Kajiura convention appearances on AnimeCons.com

* v
* t
* e

FictionJunction Yuuka

Members|

* Yuki Kajiura
* Yuuka Nanri

Singles|

* Hitomi no Kakera
* Inside Your Heart
* Akatsuki no Kuruma
* Honoh no Tobira
* Silly-Go-Round
* Kōya Ruten
* Romanesque

Albums|

* Destination
* Circus

Related|

* FictionJunction
* See-Saw
* Tiaraway

* v
* t
* e

Kalafina

* Keiko
* Wakana
* Maya
* Hikaru

Studio albums|

* Seventh Heaven
* Red Moon
* After Eden
* Consolation
* Far on the Water

Compilations|

* The Best "Red"
* The Best "Blue"

Live albums|

* Kalafina 5th Anniversary Live Selection 2009-2012
* Kalafina 8th Anniversary Special Products the Live Album "Kalafina Live Tour 2014" at Tokyo Kokusai Forum Hall A

Mini albums|

* Re/Oblivious

Singles|

* "oblivious"
* "sprinter/ARIA"
* "fairytale"
* "Lacrimosa"
* "storia"
* "progressive"
* "Hikari no Senritsu"
* "Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa"
* "Magia"
* "to the beginning"
* "moonfesta"
* "Hikari Furu"
* "Alleluia"
* "Kimi no Gin no Niwa"
* "heavenly blue"
* "believe"
* "ring your bell"
* "One Light"

Related articles|

* Yuki Kajiura
* Discography

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Japan
* Spain
* Norway
* Korea
* Poland

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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