An Analysis of "All Officially Released Songs" by Fujifabric (Part 2)

Last time, I introduced that Fujifabric's "all officially released songs" total198 songs(188 original songs, 1 song under a different name, and 9 covers), as well as the number of songs by vocalist and by composer.

Continuing from last time, this time I will introduce the number of songs by lyricist for all of Fujifabric's "officially released songs" and offer my own analysis.

Number of songs by lyricist

Out of the 198 total songs, excluding the 9 cover songs and 4 songs without lyrics, the lyricists for the 185 original songs are as follows.

・Masahiko Shimura: 83 songs
・Soichiro Yamauchi: 51 songs
・Soichiro Yamauchi + Shinichi Kato: 4 songs
・Soichiro Yamauchi + Shinichi Kato + Daisuke Kanazawa: 1 song
　("Kimi wa Entenka")
・Soichiro Yamauchi + Rui Momota: 1 song
　("Green Bird")
・Daisuke Kanazawa: 10 songs
・Daisuke Kanazawa + Shinichi Kato: 2 songs
　("Swan", "Time")
・Daisuke Kanazawa + Soichiro Yamauchi: 1 song
　("Hitomi no Rendezvous")
・Shinichi Kato: 27 songs
・Shinichi Kato + Soichiro Yamauchi: 1 song
　("Parade")
・Shinichi Kato + Masahiko Shimura: 1 song
　("Ai ni")
・Fujifabric: 2 songs
　("Cannes no Kyujitsu", "Particle Dreams")
・Bakarhythm: 1 song
　("Tie Up")

The "essence" of the Shimura era as shown by the numbers

Out of the 185 original songs, 83 were written by Masahiko Shimura.
This number holds more meaning than just the fact that it is the "highest number."
Fujifabric during the Shimura era had a structure of:
・Composition: Centered on Shimura + member participation
・Lyrics: Almost exclusively Shimura alone
In other words, the band's "world of words" was entirely Shimura's.
The individuality of Fujifabric during this period almost entirely overlaps with Shimura's lyrical world.
It is no exaggeration to say that Fujifabric-ness equals Shimura's words.
The numbers clearly show the outline of that structure.

The words of a "genius" named Masahiko Shimura

Shimura's lyrics are truly diverse.
The lyrical world seen in "Sakura no Kisetsu," "Kagerou," and "Akai Kiiroi Kinmokusei."
The rhythm and wordplay represented by "TAIFU" and "Ginga."
Autobiographical stories like "Wakamono no Subete," "ByeBye," and "Akaneiro no Yuuhi."
And lyrics that seem to spit out inner conflict, which are prominent during the "CHRONICLE" period.
One person wrote expressions with such a wide range.
This is more than just talent; one could say the density of his sensitivity was extraordinary.
Moreover, all of them are "very Fujifabric."
To be honest, I think Masahiko Shimura was indeed a "genius."

The singularity called "Ai ni"

"Ai ni" is the only collaboration between Shimura and Shinichi Kato.
However, this is an exceptional song.
Shimura left only a part of the chorus, and Kato completed the lyrics after his passing.
This song exists like a "bridge" in the process of moving from the Shimura era to the Yamauchi era.
At this time, Kato's lyrics were highly praised, and he became the center of songwriting in the early Yamauchi era.
Looking at the numbers, Kato has 27 solo lyric credits.
Including collaborations, he is involved in 36 songs.
Here, too, the change in structure is clearly visible.

Transition to the Yamauchi era and "updating"

From the middle of the Yamauchi era onwards, Fujifabric gradually shifted its center of gravity from the "reverberations of Shimura" to "expressions centered on Yamauchi."
Soichiro Yamauchi has 51 lyric credits.
He is second only to Shimura.
Yamauchi's lyrics, especially since "LIFE," have clearly evolved.
In "Blue" and "LIFE," he depicts a unique world from a different perspective than Shimura.
And then there is "Tegami."
The lyrics of this song are written in private words addressed to family and friends in Osaka.
Rather than looking back at his past self, it is a message sent from his current self to others.
If Shimura depicted the "depths of the inner self," Yamauchi depicts the "self within relationships."
Although the direction is different from Shimura's, there is a definite depth there.
It is hard to say he "surpassed" Shimura.
However, the world of the new Fujifabric was certainly "updated."
I believe this update is the reason the band continued even after Shimura was gone.