Kalafina Explained

Kalafina
Landscape:	yes
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Tokyo, Japan
Genre:	Anison Baroque pop^[1]
Years Active:	2007–2019
Associated Acts:	Yuki Kajiura, FictionJunction

was 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. They disbanded in 2018 - 19.

History

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^{[4] [5] [6]} Space Craft has further announced that concerts and 10th anniversary film's plans would still move forward.^{[7] [8]} Despite the band being expected to disband in spring,^[9] Space Craft reported to the official fan club that only one member will leave Kalafina.^{[10] [11] [12]} 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.^[13] It was confirmed on April 13, 2018 on Kalafina Lineblog that Keiko had officially left the group as of April 1, 2018.^[14] 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.^{[15] [16]}

Members

Main vocalists

• : 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.^[17] 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".^[18] In 2020, she is working on a solo album with Avex Trax.^[19]
• : She is also a member of FictionJunction and previously collaborated with Yuki Kajiura as FictionJunction WAKANA.^[20] She moved from Space Craft to Victor Entertainment in 2019, and has released two solo albums and an EP.^{[21] [22]}
• 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.^[17]
• : 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.^[17] She is from Toyama Prefecture.^[23] In 2020, she is pursuing a solo career under the name H-el-ical//^{[19] [24]}

Supporting

• Yuki Kajiura: The primary composer and arranger of Kalafina's songs. Kajiura left the group upon her departure from Space Craft Produce.
• 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

See main article: Kalafina discography.

Studio albums

• 2009: Seventh Heaven
• 2010: Red Moon
• 2011: After Eden
• 2013: Consolation
• 2015: Far on the Water

Other albums

• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kalafina's Album Enters Oricon's Weekly Chart At Top 2 Spot, Asian Tour Confirmed! . Korea Portal . 29 September 2015 . 16 May 2022.
2. Web site: 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. January 6, 2017.
3. Web site: Kalafina: An Interview. 27 May 2023 .
4. Web site: Anime Music Composer Yuki Kajiura Leaves Agency After 25 Years. 21 February 2018. . 21 February 2018.
5. Web site: 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. 23 December 2017. sponichi.co.jp . 21 February 2018.
6. Web site: 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. 21 February 2018 . sponichi.co.jp. 21 February 2018.
7. Web site: Singing Unit Kalafina to Continue After Producer Yuki Kajiura's Departure. 21 February 2018. Anime News Network. 21 February 2018.
8. Web site: Kalafina、プロデューサー梶浦氏退社後も活動継続. 21 February 2018. oricon.co.jp. 21 February 2018.
9. Web site: Kalafina disbanding at the end of Spring ARAMA! JAPAN. ARAMA! JAPAN. 13 March 2018. 13 March 2018.
10. Web site: Singing Unit Kalafina's Agency Confirms 1 Member Will Leave. March 13, 2018. Anime News Network. March 13, 2018.
11. Web site: システムメンテナンスのお知らせ. March 13, 2018. kalafina-fc-harmony.jp. March 13, 2018.
12. Web site: Kalafina Harmony Fanclub Message(Translate from the official site of Kalafina Harmony Fanclub). Facebook. March 13, 2018.
13. Web site: 「Ｋａｌａｆｉｎａ」脱退メンバーはＫｅｉｋｏ 今秋予定のＣＤ＆ツアーは白紙に. March 14, 2018. Sports Hochi. March 14, 2018.
14. Web site: 『Staffからのお知らせ』. April 13, 2018. Kalafina Official Lineblog. April 13, 2018.
15. Web site: Harmony会員の皆様へお知らせ. March 13, 2019. Kalafina Harmony Official Fans Club. March 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330061301/https://kalafina-fc-harmony.jp/contents/231456. March 30, 2019. dead.
16. Web site: Kalafinaの解散について. March 13, 2019. Space Craft Agency. March 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190318022140/http://www.spacecraft.co.jp/kalafina/. March 18, 2019. dead.
17. Web site: Bunshun: Kalafina Members Want to Get Back Together. Anime News Network. 27 May 2023 .
18. Web site: Space Craft Group. spacecraft.co.jp.
19. Web site: Former Kalafina Member Keiko Kubota Resumes Singing Career. Anime News Network. 27 May 2023 .
20. Web site: Space Craft Group. spacecraft.co.jp.
21. Web site: Wakanaの作品. ORICON NEWS.
22. Web site: Wakana | DISCOGRAPHY. www.jvcmusic.co.jp.
23. Web site: Space Craft Group. spacecraft.co.jp.
24. Web site: Gleipnir Anime Reveals Cast, More Staff, Theme Song Artist. Anime News Network. 27 May 2023 .