Yuki Kajiura LIVE vol.#22 ~precious pieces~ 4th July - 9th August 2026

[grunty]

I finally rewatched ykl#20 on bluray (only took me 6 months to get to it, lol).
Loved it like on the first watch from the TV airing. Same exact nitpicks too, lol. Didn't care for "the four rings" (never was my thing), "absolute configuration" (doesn't work for me without the gals kicking eachothers' arses), "I reach for the sun" (always disliked it). I wish that maybe "Historia:opening theme" was between "Kitchen kakumei" and "voyagers" instead of after... I skipped "zodiacal sign" too... Other than that, had such a great time with the live again.

With the exception of "I reach for the sun", all the English songs and "voyagers" were sooooooooooo my thing. Eri was great fun. Her walking in front of that piano when "Hepatica"'s instrumental kicks in is still stun.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

I finally rewatched ykl#20 on bluray

Yes! The Kanagawa one right?A top-5 live for me.

"absolute configuration" (doesn't work for me without the gals kicking eachothers' arses)

Uhmm...excuse me? Kicking each other? Please elucidate.

all the English songs and "voyagers" were sooooooooooo my thing

Yes! English songs sung by Joelle with only Yuriko and Keiko supporting. Highest level 3-piece FJ vocals possibly ever.

Her walking in front of that piano when "Hepatica"'s instrumental kicks in is still stun.

Eri was a very strong sole guest artist and her pedigree took me back to YKL - was it 2? - when they were all a lot younger. Not many of her collaborators can command that level of guest performance for an entire live.

I am curious if she or Yuuka holds the title for the most number of songs written for them.

 

[grunty]

I am curious if she or Yuuka holds the title for the most number of songs written for them.

In general? (Since Eri doesn't have that many with real lyrics.)
I want to guess Hanae has the most features on Kajiura's productions. It's a shame her guest appearances during lives are always so basic.

Uhmm...excuse me? Kicking each other? Please elucidate.

Watch Madoka? lol.

 

[CloisteredFlame]

I want to guess Hanae has the most features on Kajiura's productions. It's a shame her guest appearances during lives are always so basic.

Yeah, Hanae's stage presentation is always understated and meditative/contemplative, and her voice is beautiful in a melancholic way. I imagine she can sing something more emotional/dramatic (as a singer) but yet to imagine it (something like Eri would sing). I just don't think she's that kind of singer.

Watch Madoka? lol.

I mean, I did, but I don't want our utahime kicking anything, especially not each others'....

 

[CloisteredFlame]

Gemini gave me a nice description for Joelle's voice when I asked it a question:

"Vocal Style: Within this project, Joelle delivers powerful live performances, blending her sophisticated soprano voice into complex, multi-part vocal harmonies."

I especially like the "sophisticated soprano" expression. She really is vocally sophisticated.

 

[Thanatos800]

I think YK messed up by having YUUKA as a guest soon after so many FJY songs in ykl19 and ykl21. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

I agree. Especially after Keiko's Kioku no Mori, KOKIA's nostalgia and Joelle's Honoo... The performances of FictionJunction YUUKA songs at the previous YKL really raised the bar (I'm not a huge fan of Yuuka's voice, tbh).
But I think that the YKL#19 and YKL#21 acted as a sort of "Yuuka summoning"

 

[toshiroukajiura]

Ohhh. I wanna know more about this

 

[george1234]

wow she never shared something so personal before last time she said something of similar nature was that german kid who kissed her when they were little n he got slapped in return. Sucks that we ll never get to see this MC cause if they release anything from this tour it will be the Orchard special.

 

[grunty]

Yeah, Hanae's stage presentation is always understated and meditative/contemplative, and her voice is beautiful in a melancholic way. I imagine she can sing something more emotional/dramatic (as a singer) but yet to imagine it (something like Eri would sing). I just don't think she's that kind of singer.

I was talking about track selections for Hanae's appearances during YKL. It's always My-HiME & lotus and we got lucky getting some Vanitas on ykl17. There's so much more they could choose from when it comes to Hanae's pool of YK tracks.

I mean, I did, but I don't want our utahime kicking anything, especially not each others'....

I meant "absolute confugiration" doesn't do much without anime visuals for me. You know the scene it was used in.

I agree. Especially after Keiko's Kioku no Mori, KOKIA's nostalgia and Joelle's Honoo... The performances of FictionJunction YUUKA songs at the previous YKL really raised the bar (I'm not a huge fan of Yuuka's voice, tbh).
But I think that the YKL#19 and YKL#21 acted as a sort of "Yuuka summoning"

For me, it's not about raising the bar, but about rehashing. YUUKA has enough songs that they haven't performed without her being a guest but from these 3 lives that's still just like 1-2 rare songs per set. The rest was performed in the last few lives without YUUKA.

Again, that's me saying shit as someone only watching what they release. Perhaps concert goers are perfectly fine hearing the same songs again and again, with the new live experience being worth it on its own.