Talking about Fujifabric during the 'Cherry Blossom Season'.
In the spring of 2004, a certain band made their major debut.
From their first release, it went: 'Sakura no Kisetsu' (Cherry Blossom Season) → 'Kagerou' (Heat Haze) → 'Akaiiro no Kinmokusei' (Red-Yellow Osmanthus) → 'Ginga' (Galaxy). This isn't just tracing their discography. This is a band that started by coloring the four seasons of Japan—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—right from their debut.
Yes, that is Fujifabric.
When I first learned about this band, the man who wrote the lyrics and music for their signature song, 'Wakamono no Subete' (All About Young People), was no longer in this world.
A few years after his passing, the band changed their structure and
set out on a journey once again. It was during that time that I encountered them.
In the single 'Tsurezure Monochrome' released by Fujifabric as they stood at a new starting point, there are lyrics like these.
Look, the place where you hit a dead end
is where it all begins
Quoted from 'Tsurezure Monochrome'
There is so much meaning in Fujifabric singing this phrase that it instantly stirred something within me, having started listening to them by tracing the band's history. Since then, I have listened to them while experiencing the joy of witnessing their restart and the feeling of growing alongside them.
Returning to the story of the four works since their debut, or in other words, the four seasons, to summarize:
1st 'Sakura no Kisetsu' → Spring
2nd 'Kagerou' → Summer
3rd 'Akaiiro no Kinmokusei' → Autumn
4th 'Ginga' → Winter
That is how it goes.
(These four pieces are also notable for their artwork.)
The moment you can see cherry blossoms is surprisingly fleeting and the season passes by, but 'Sakura no Kisetsu' is a debut single with a sound style that similarly moves from one new section to the next.
The 2nd single shines with the sense to capture 'Kagerou' (Heat Haze) as a seasonal feature of summer, rather than the sea or fireworks, right in the middle of the season.
It is amazing enough that the scenery can be seen just through the words, but
the 3rd single 'Akaiiro no Kinmokusei' proceeds with a unique tempo and rhythm that even lets you feel the scent.
'Ginga', which is generously scattered with onomatopoeia like 'pa-pa-pa' and 'ta-ta-ta' over a 16-beat rhythm.
The 4th single is packed with a gimmick that modulates in two stages from there (resulting in a one-tone modulation by half-tones).
And after this, it continues on to 'Niji' (Rainbow) and 'Akairo no Yuuhi' (Crimson Sunset).
While gazing at the crimson sunset
there was something I remembered a little
Quoted from 'Akairo no Yuuhi'
I think the evening truly has a mysterious magic.
Like the time just before it gets dark when returning from playing as a child, or inside a car where it's so bright you pull down the sun visor.
Night has its own emotions that are born, but the evening also has a wonderful, nostalgic worldview.
Personally, having finally been able to go to Southern All Stars' town of 'Chigasaki' last year, the next town I want to visit is 'Fujiyoshida'.
It seems that when the anniversary of Masahiko Shimura's death approaches, the town's 5:00 PM chime changes to 'Akairo no Yuuhi'.
I want to see the evening scenery in the town where he grew up; this is my dream right now. (It seems 'Wakamono no Subete' plays for a short period in July, his birth month.)
Time passes without even being able to say goodbye, but
I will never forget the sounds woven with dreams
If I restring the guitar
that has been broken for years
it's a twilight where I feel I could sing with you again
Quoted from 'Tegami' (Letter)
Being able to encounter a band where each member skillfully expresses and embodies what they are seeing right now, and Fujifabric, who showed me various sceneries and landscapes even after losing their frontman, is a lifelong treasure.
※ This is a personal impression.
Please let me know if there are any incorrect details that need correction.