Kalafina's First Documentary Film Opens in Theaters, Reveals the Roots of the Three Members

Kalafina's first documentary film, "Kalafina 10th Anniversary Film: Harmony of Brilliance Spun by Dreams," will be released in theaters on March 30, 2018. This documentary follows the three members through their World Heritage live performances at Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kofukuji Temple in Nara, their acoustic tour in 2017, and their 10th anniversary live performance at Nippon Budokan on January 23 this year. Wakana, Keiko, and Hikaru talked to us about the highlights of the film and some of the hidden stories behind the filming!

When we saw them in their everyday lives on film, it was a fresh experience for us.

─ We had the chance to see Kalafina's first documentary film, "Kalafina 10th Anniversary Film: Harmony of Brilliance Spun by Dreams," before its release. The film climaxed with Kalafina's 10th anniversary live performance at Nippon Budokan, so let's start with your impressions of that concert.

Wakana: We wanted to make a live concert where the audience could feel the time of 10 years with us, so we asked the fans in advance what songs they wanted to hear. The setlist was created in this way, and I was so excited just before going on stage because of the joy of presenting songs from the past 10 years together, and also because I wanted the audience to be surprised by the unexpected composition of the setlist. I wanted to present as many songs as possible, so I sang 27 songs without time for MC, but when it was over, it went by so fast that I still felt like I wanted to sing a few more songs. But it was a wonderful concert with so many people there, from those who have walked with us for the past 10 years to those who just recently came to know Kalafina.

Keiko: During the year of 2017, I think we have always had the 10th anniversary live in mind, even more so since we announced at the Tokyo International Forum during the "9+ONE" tour in June that "We will make it a fan vote (for the 10th anniversary live at Nippon Budokan)," and the votes came in. When the votes were collected, I felt that "this is exactly the set list that we will make together with the audience". The stage on that day was really special, and I could not get over that feeling even after the concert was over.

Hikaru: The songs that you all chose were well balanced in terms of age groups, so even while I was rehearsing by myself, I was reminded of how I was singing at that time and how I sang this song in the beginning. When I was singing on stage that day, the path that Kalafina has taken came back to my mind, and I felt that every song that I sing now has become the music of Kalafina of today.

───"Kalafina 10th Anniversary Film: Harmony of Brilliance Spun by Dreams" showed many scenes of you in your everyday life, which was very refreshing. You even introduced photos from your childhood.

Wakana I was also very interested in their childhood, so when I saw them for the first time, I was impressed to see that they were just like they are now. I was so impressed. In the movie, there were scenes where each of the three talked about their childhood, which was interesting. For example, Hikaru's picture in a musical was introduced and I thought, "Cute! I thought.

─ ─ What did you think when you heard that we were going to make a documentary film?

Wakana I think it was around the end of the "9+ONE" tour when I first heard about it. It was around last summer. We have had DVDs of our live performances and appearances at overseas events, but this was the first time for us to have our performances filmed over a period of about six months, and the first time for a documentary to cover Kalafina's 10-year history, so I was very interested.

Keiko: I've had some close-up interviews overseas before, but I'm not particularly good at having the camera close to me before and after a live performance (laughs). I wasn't sure if I would be able to maintain the awareness that I was being filmed at all times.

─ ─ It is true that you may feel uncomfortable being filmed by a camera during meetings, rehearsals, and right before a live performance.

Keiko: About halfway through, I gave up and said, "It can't be helped" (laughs). I thought that if I kept worrying about the camera, my words and actions would become stiff, and then it wouldn't be a documentary at all, so I tried to forget about the camera.

I tried to forget the camera was there. There was a scene in the rehearsal studio where the three of us were sitting on the floor, and we looked very relaxed.

Keiko: It was us as usual (laughs). (Laughs) We always sit on the floor during rehearsals and discuss things while stretching, but we had never shown such an appearance before, so it was strange to see it in the video, and it was something unfamiliar to me. I felt once again that I had never really shown this side of Kalafina in my everyday life, and I am glad that they filmed this film for me.

Keiko: Kalafina has the image of being dressed in formal wear.

Keiko We are usually like that (laughs).

Wakana I hope you can understand that we also wear jerseys like that (laughs).

Hikaru: Like wearing glasses (laughs).

Keiko There was a scene (laughs). (laughs). I felt like I was used perfectly.

Wakana I am looking forward to seeing the reaction from the fans. For us, it's just everyday life, but I wonder if you will see it in a way that is unexpected.


Keiko That's what a documentary is all about, isn't it (laughs)?

Hikaru: Like Keiko, when I heard that we were going to make a documentary, I was nervous that the camera would be close by all the time, and if I became conscious of the fact that I was being filmed, I would not be able to be my normal self.