Q. It’s been almost seven years since your debut and the beginnings of your activities with the “Kara no Kyoukai (The Garden of Sinners)” theme song project in 2008; have the past six and a half years felt long to you, or short?

Wakana：To be honest, it’s felt both. There have been moments when it’s felt like time has just flown by, and plenty of others that have felt really long, like when the three of us would think things through together, have discussions, rehearse, and then repeat the process all over again.

Q. All of your songs are wonderful but if you had to choose a favorite or a particularly memorable song from amongst the thirty songs on your best of albums, which would you choose?

Wakana：Mine would be “oblivious,” on THE BEST “Red.” This was Kalafina’s debut song and whenever I listen to it it transports me back to that time and what I felt back then at the time of our debut. It’s also a reminder of Kajiura-san’s flawless musical sensibility and that we too always have to be moving forward.

Keiko：Each song really is packed with memories, but I would have to say “Hikari no Senritsu” on THE BEST “Red.” We were doing a lot of live performances around the time that we finished this song and it’s the song that we would most often close our set with, so we would slowly build up the right mood with the crowd and by the end we would have this really warm atmosphere and then we would sing “Hikari no Senritsu” and everyone’s face would take on this gentle expression - that really left an impression on me. It was a big reminder of how important it is to deliver songs to people directly.

Hikaru：For me, it’s “Magia” on THE BEST “Blue.” It has a unique sound that’s darker and more powerful than any song we’ve released so far, so I was a little worried how people would react to it at first, but it’s been quite popular; a lot of people have listened to it and it’s now a regular on our live set, so I’m really happy. I think Kalafina’s musical stylings really grew from there.

Q. You’re also quite popular overseas and the Kalafina name is becoming known throughout the world as one of Japan’s leading acts. I asked you previously about your Asia tour in 2010, but did you feel anything had changed since then compared to the concert you gave in Hong Kong in May this year?

Keiko：This was the fourth time we’ve performed in Hong Kong and the first time in four years, but unlike the previous occasions, this time we had our band members with us and we performed solo over two days. We had a lot more time than ever before to enjoy our music with the crowd and really take our time to let them listen to the new songs we’ve made in the past four years. It was also a chance for us ourselves to listen to how we sound now and that was something I really looked forward to.
There were also a lot of people in the audience who saw us perform live for the first time, and that was something about Hong Kong that left an impression on me. A result of all the work we’ve done these past four years and the songs that have come to life through all the encounters we’ve made, no doubt. Of course there were lots of people there who had seen us before and had been waiting for four years for us to return, too, so the two days was a time to show our appreciation to those fans as well.


Q.What do you all do on your days off or when you want to relax?

Wakana：: I like to laze around watching DVDs, or if it’s a day off, go out somewhere.

Keiko：I love to clean and exercise, and eat really good food. Eating a lot is the source of my energy!

Hikaru：I just sleep most of the time…

Kalafina：(lol)

Q. Wakana, you were raised in Fukuoka, but is there anything that the three of you “must do” whenever you’re in Fukuoka?

Wakana：Eat “Tai Chazuke” at “Yoshida” – we went there during our last campaign. We actually had lunch there just a moment ago. We were all like, “Oishii ne~” (“So good”).

Keiko：Will we have time (for Tai Chazuke) in Fukuoka?! Please let there be time! We pleaded.

Wakana：I think from now on Tai Chazuke will be a must-do whenever we’re in Fukuoka (lol).