This website is dedicated to the rock band group Fujifabric. I hope that through this site, as many people as possible will be able to discover their music and songs.
This site offers an English translation of all their lyrics. In the posts on the blog, brief insights, which give some back ground and explanation to the many reference made in the lyrics to Japanese traditions, culture and life.
Looking forward to feedback and comments! Enjoy!
The “Fujiyoshida ZOKKON” event, held in 2024 and 2025, returns again. It is a community event where 3,000 Fujiyoshida residents and furusato nozei (hometown tax) donors gather at Fuji-Q Highland to share their everyday gratitude and their special feelings for Fujiyoshida. For details, please see the special website of Fujiyoshida City Hall.
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, October 24.
The program is packed with activities you can only experience here, including presentations on how hometown tax donations are being used and introductions to the thank-you gifts. And once again this year, the night sky on this special day will be decorated with special music. This is the third year of the program in which fireworks light up the sky to Fujifabric’s “Wakamono no Subete” (“Everything About Youth”). Written and composed by Fujiyoshida native Masahiko Shimura, “Wakamono no Subete” has appeared in high school music textbooks for three consecutive editions and has become a classic “end of summer” song for people of all ages. Before the finale, the music video for Fujifabric’s “Wakamono no Subete” is also scheduled to be screened at the venue.
This year, an exhibition space will also be set up in part of the hometown tax gift PR booth area. We hope Fujifabric fans will enjoy the exhibition, and we want donors who don’t yet know Fujifabric to learn about Masahiko Shimura. That wish is what made this program possible.
It’s already time again for the final annual fireworks display
Because the band suddenly had to put out a single ahead of their third album, TEENAGER, “Wakamono no Subete” was released on November 7, 2007, out of season for a summer song. We hope you’ll enjoy the atmosphere of its original release here in Fujiyoshida in late October, as autumn deepens.
Please note that the fireworks and music video screening are limited to hometown tax donors only.
Today’s song is “Wakamono no Subete.” It was a song that shone once again this year.
Once again, this special time of year has arrived.
For seven days surrounding Masahiko Shimura's birthday, the evening chime played throughout Fujiyoshida City is replaced with Fujifabric's "Wakamono no Subete (All About the Youth)."
Broadcast Period: Tuesday, 7 July – Monday, 13 July 2026, every day at 6:00 p.m. Song:Wakamono no Subete "All About The Youth" by Fujifabric Lyrics & Music: Masahiko Shimura (born in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture)
For more information, please see the Fujiyoshida City website: Fujiyoshida City Hall – Evening Chime Changed to "Wakamono no Subete"
This year marks the 30th edition of this wonderful project, organised by the city's young staff members.
Their hope is that:
by hearing music written by Masahiko Shimura in his hometown of Fujiyoshida, people will experience something truly special;
more local residents will discover Masahiko Shimura and Fujifabric, deepening their appreciation of their hometown and its cultural heritage;
the music will encourage children and young people to pursue their dreams and hopes for the future.
It is a heartfelt project that has grown from the passion and dedication of the young staff at Fujiyoshida City Hall.
On 10 July, Masahiko Shimura would have celebrated his 46th birthday.
When Fujifabric released their third album, TEENAGER, Shimura explained that he wanted it to resonate with both those who used to be teenagers and those who are teenagers now. The album invites each listener to reflect on their own youth while embracing the present.
Track 4, "Wakamono no Subete," was even included in Japanese high school music textbooks and has since become one of Japan's most beloved songs marking the end of summer. Yet its message continues to resonate with listeners of every generation.
If you have the opportunity, I warmly invite you to visit Fujiyoshida and experience your own "Wakamono no Subete" in the town where it was born.
As in previous years, the Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun website plans to livestream the evening chime from outside Shimoyoshida Station. Please access the livestream through the link below.
Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun (Web Edition)
Today's featured song is "Wakamono no Subete." Although it has been covered by many artists, I hope you will take this opportunity to listen to the original recording—to experience Masahiko Shimura's poetic lyrics, his unmistakable voice, and the quietly resonant piano performed by Daisuke Kanazawa. Together they create a musical world that only Fujifabric could have imagined.
Fujifabric’s “Akaneiro no Yūhi” Featured in Episode 10 of the TV Anime Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk
Fujifabric’s song “Akaneiro no Yūhi” (Crimson Sunset) was featured in Episode 10 of the TV anime Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk. "Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk"
The song appeared as a cherished piece of music shared between Akane and Yaeka. As Akane began performing Akaneiro no Yūhi with her guitar—a song that Botan also mentions she loves—Yaeka joined in from the line, “The stars in Tokyo’s sky...”, and the two sang together.
At the time, Yaeka was upset by Akane’s carefree and impulsive behavior. In an effort to make peace, Akane performed Akaneiro no Yūhi as a heartfelt gesture of reconciliation. The scene beautifully conveyed the natural and unguarded relationship between the two characters.
The gentle transition from Akane and Yaeka’s rendition of Akaneiro no Yūhi to Masahiko Shimura’s original recording was handled with great care, respecting the unique atmosphere that defines Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk. I was also impressed by the production team's attention to detail in choosing the version of the song from Fujifabric’s 2002 indie mini-album À la Carte. The album jacket itself was even depicted within the episode, further highlighting the staff’s commitment to authenticity.
Following the broadcast, both “Fujifabric” and “Akaneiro no Yūhi” appeared among the trending topics on X. The episode generated a remarkable response, with enthusiastic reactions appearing in posts on X, YouTube comments, and across social media.
Many viewers wrote:
“This was the first time I’d ever heard this song.”
“Shimura-san continues to live on through his music.”
“He is still loved to this day.”
The episode offered viewers a chance to feel the presence of Masahiko Shimura from a perspective quite different from that of the music scene itself.
I sincerely hope that Episode 10’s use of Akaneiro no Yūhi will provide an opportunity for fans of Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk to discover Fujifabric, and for Fujifabric fans to discover Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When Drunk.
The passion that manga creator Hei-sensei and the production team poured into Episode 10 was evident throughout. Their thoughtful consideration in “borrowing” a song that holds such special significance for both Shimura-san and Fujifabric fans could be seen in the advance announcements and social media posts released before the broadcast. I believe that sincerity resonated strongly with viewers.
The revival screening of the film Scrap Heaven began on April 24. Some fans of Fujifabric may have already had the chance to see it.
Scrap Heaven represents the starting point of the themes that would later develop in director Lee Sang-il’s works such as Villain and Rage. The film already explores elements such as the inner workings of the human psyche, contradictions within society, inescapable anger, and the ambiguity between good and evil.
Meanwhile, Kokuhō—which went on to become a historic box office hit for a live-action Japanese film, winning Best Picture and Best Director at the Japan Academy Awards and earning international acclaim—has drawn renewed attention to Scrap Heaven as audiences seek to understand the “origin of Lee’s artistic vision” that ultimately led to Kokuhō.
Yesterday, on Sunday, May 3, at the 20:20 screening, a special event was held in which director Lee Sang-il appeared on stage for a greeting.
During the talk, Lee mentioned that this revival screening had been planned long in advance, and was not a result of the success of Kokuhō. He also shared a number of stories about Fujifabric.
He recalled that the members of Fujifabric were extremely polite, lining up neatly side by side to greet him—far from the image one might typically associate with a rock band.
He also spoke about Masahiko Shimura, describing him as someone who carefully considered each and every word before speaking.
When Lee told them, “You can use the song however you like,” Shimura responded, “Rather than simply attaching it to a finished film, I want to create it as part of the work itself.”
Regarding the lyric “in this wonderful world,” Lee said that when he heard it, he felt that it truly captured the world of the film.
He also noted how, within the song’s beautiful sound, there are deliberately placed dissonant elements—like the sound of fingernails scratching glass.
Lee Sang-il appears in his own film Scrap Heaven, made 21 years ago.
He shared a remarkable number of memories. The fact that he could recall events from over two decades ago as if they had happened only yesterday reveals how highly he regards “Mirage,” Fujifabric, and Masahiko Shimura.
At theaters showing the revival, commemorative merchandise is being sold. The special 8-page leaflet includes a three-page reprint of a dialogue between Lee and Shimura that took place at the time.
For this reprint, Lee added a short comment:
“...The words Shimura wove together remain unfaded even after twenty years, as proof of how sincerely he faced his music.”
(Lee Sang-il, DIALOGUE: Scrap Heaven Revival Commemorative 8-page Leaflet)
From Lee’s words during the stage greeting, as well as the statement featured in the leaflet, I felt that he truly understood what kind of person Shimura was, and what he valued most in life.
Have you heard of the manga “Bōtan Kamiiina: Her Tipsy Is Like a Lily Flower” (original work by Hori, serialized in Akita Shoten’s Champion Cross)?
This manga tells a story of delicate and gentle relationships that slowly blossom during moments of light intoxication.
The protagonist, Botan Kamiiina, is a girl who carries an elusive, almost mysterious aura. Through her casual conversations with friends and the honest expressions she reveals in fleeting moments, the story leaves behind a soft and lingering impression. The motif of alcohol subtly brings the characters closer together, creating opportunities for their true feelings and thoughts to spill out—one of the work’s most charming aspects.
Rather than dramatic events, the story carefully gathers small changes and emotional shifts in everyday life. It has been adapted into an anime, which began airing on April 10 this year on TOKYO MX and BS11 (see the official TV Anime “Bōtan Kamiiina: Her Tipsy Is Like a Lily Flower” website).
In this anime adaptation, the Fujifabric song Akaneiro no Yūhi has been used as part of the production.
According to the official X (formerly Twitter) account:
“This is a special story featuring the song ‘Akaneiro no Yūhi,’ written and composed by Masahiko Shimura of Fujifabric.”
What kind of direction and atmosphere will this create, one wonders?
An illustration featuring Akane Yusa and Yaeka Hokuto was also released. Could there be a connection between the name “Akane” and the song “Akaneiro no Yūhi”?
Akane is portrayed as a music-loving character who plays guitar in her own band, which certainly sparks the imagination.
This episode is scheduled to air as Episode 10.
Fans, please look forward to it.
Today’s featured song is “Akaneiro no Yūhi.” It is a deeply meaningful piece, both for Shimura himself and for fans alike.
執筆者の福アニーさんは、志村正彦さんが亡くなる10日前、2009年12月14日にインタビューをしたライターさんとして、ファンの間では広く知られています。「『信玄餅のインタビュー』をしたライターさん」として知っている方もいるかもしれません。「志村正彦追悼『THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME』第二回」
「日常と非日常、現実と幻想、正常と異常、正気と狂気のキワキワのところで、いまもフジファブリックの、志村の音楽は鳴っている。」(「スクラップ・ヘブン」リバイバル上映に合わせて、志村正彦さんの言葉で振り返りながら「蜃気楼」について書いているのが、「志村正彦の言葉と共に振り返る『スクラップ・ヘブン』エンディング曲『蜃気楼』」:NiEW with Alternatives with J-WAVE 2026年4月28日付 記事より)
Today, I would like to introduce an article published on April 28, 2025.
It is titled: “Looking Back on ‘Mirage,’ the Ending Theme of Scrap Heaven, Through the Words of Masahiko Shimura.”
The writer, Annie Fuku, is widely known among fans as the journalist who interviewed Masahiko Shimura just ten days before his passing, on December 14, 2009. Some may also recognize her as “the writer who conducted the ‘Shingen Mochi interview.’” This piece is part of Masahiko Shimura Memorial: “THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME” (Part 2).
In conjunction with the revival screening of Scrap Heaven, Annie has written about “Mirage” in this article: “Looking Back on ‘Mirage,’ the Ending Theme of Scrap Heaven, Through the Words of Masahiko Shimura.”
(NiEW with Alternatives with J-WAVE, April 28, 2026)志村正彦の言葉と共に振り返る、『スクラップ・ヘブン』エンディング曲“蜃気楼”
A key element at the core of Shimura’s music-making was imagination.
This overlaps with what was discussed in the previous blog post, but Annie connects this shared keyword—present in both Scrap Heaven and Fujifabric—with Tetsu’s line:
“There’s not enough imagination in this world.”
“Even now, Fujifabric’s music—Shimura’s music—resonates at the very edge between the ordinary and the extraordinary, reality and fantasy, normality and abnormality, sanity and madness.”
(From the NiEW with Alternatives with J-WAVE article, April 28, 2026)
Within Fujifabric’s music as well, these elements—ordinary and extraordinary, reality and fantasy, normality and abnormality, sanity and madness—coexist. It made me feel that perhaps this was one of Shimura’s remarkably sophisticated devices: crafting music that could resonate in countless ways depending on the listener’s imagination.
That Masahiko Shimura truly existed.
That he was an extraordinary musician.
Thanks to writers like Annie, who revisit his words and reflect on “Mirage” at this moment in time, it feels as though the music of Masahiko Shimura and Fujifabric has come into even more vivid focus.