Yuki Kajiura / FictionJunction - Comes back to USA.

Announces performance at largest Midwest anime, manga, and Japanese culture convention Anime Central 2026!

Yuki Kajiura / FictionJunction has announced their appearance at the largest convention in Anime Central (ACen), the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. The convention, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL, will be Yuki Kajiura's first comeback to the US since 2018. There will be a mixture of new and OG vocalists of FictionJunction as well as new repertoire from their recent releases.

Aside from being known as the composer of many notable anime works, she has also been making music for her personal music project “FictionJunction”, and at ACen, she will be welcoming regulars Joelle, KAORI, LINO LEIA, and YURIKO KAIDA as the main vocalists of the group.

Through the vocal blend of these 4 extraordinary vocalists, Kajiura has heavily influenced the way choral arrangements are implemented into anime soundtracks and theme songs, establishing her own unique sound in many notable anime series such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Sword Art Online, Fate/Zero, etc.

FictionJunction has been delivering their music all over Japan with their annual tour series “Yuki Kajiura LIVE” and will finally bring their music to the US at Anime Central 2026! The live concert will take place on Saturday, May 16th (Time and Details TBA) and will be free to attend with a valid Anime Central 2026 badge.

Do not miss this rare opportunity to see FictionJunction live!

FictionJunction Member's Profile

KAORI (Kaori Oda)
Singer. From a young age, she gained attention for her vocal skills and later participated as a vocalist in Yuki Kajiura's solo project FictionJunction and in the “fantasy band” or “Gensou Gakudan”, Sound Horizon, led by sound creator Revo. In 2013, she released her first album, PLACE, officially launching her solo music career. She has performed and written lyrics for numerous theme songs of anime works and titles such as the popular game Otomate.

Her latest album, Flowers, featuring many tie-in songs, is now on sale to great acclaim, along with the CD and DVD of Kaori Studio, a no-audience streamed Studio Live performance that incorporated fan-submitted cheers and in-song calls into the mix. In addition to her activities as an artist, she is also actively involved in lyric writing, backing vocals, vocal coaching, and vocal direction.

YURIKO KAIDA
After graduating from the Vocal Music Department of Kunitachi College of Music, she has participated as a vocalist and chorus singer in recordings and concerts for various artists. She has written lyrics for game music such as THE IDOLM@STER series and also sang the TV commercial song “Rikugō Rinne” for Fate/Grand Order: Bucchigiri?! Tea Ceremony Battle – Gudaguda New Yamataikoku: The Man Who Returned from Hell.

She has released four albums of her own: PORTA, casser la porte, Porta Rinata, and Tokoshie ni. Her activities span a wide range of fields, including providing vocal instruction for voice actors, artists, and stage productions. She has participated in most of the works produced by Yuki Kajiura and is regarded as one of Kajiura's most trusted vocalists.

Joelle
Born in Salt Lake City, USA. She began singing at an early age, with her father on the piano. While in high school, she studied classical vocal training and also started accompanying herself on guitar and piano, deciding to pursue a career in music. After graduating, she enrolled in the Vocal Department of Yamaha Music Academy, becoming the first scholarship student in the school's history. During her studies, she released “Dear Mother,” the theme song for the PS2 game Gundam G-SAVIOUR.

After graduation, a video of her singing while accompanying herself on piano caught the attention of Gary Baker, producer of the Backstreet Boys. She traveled alone to the United States to create original tracks, three of which were included on her 2006 debut mini-album Lucky Maria. The title track “Lucky Maria” was used as the theme song for Trick: The Movie 2.

In addition to participating in music groups such as Sound Horizon/Linked Horizon, she has performed numerous commercial songs, children's educational music, and appeared on NHK music programs. She has also sung insert songs for titles such as FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 and GOD EATER 3. She has performed the national anthems for Japan's national basketball team, in five countries to date. Since 2018, she has been participating in Yuki Kajiura's solo project FictionJunction.

LINO LEIA
A singer-songwriter known for her unique musical style influenced by traditional music from around the world, and her one-of-a-kind singing voice.

In 2014, she made her nationwide CD debut from a radio program project on Kiss FM KOBE. In 2022, she was selected as a singer for composer Yuki Kajiura's project FictionJunction, and has since appeared regularly on the project's nationwide tours. In 2025, she performed the theme song for the mobile game Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Magia Exedra as FictionJunction feat. LINO LEIA.

She is also actively engaged in various activities, including serving as a regular radio personality on Kiss FM KOBE and BAN-BAN Radio (a community FM station) in the Kansai region.

Yuki Kajiura
Yuki Kajiura is a multi-talent composer, lyricist, and arranger for music in anime, films, games, and many other types of media.

Her career started in 1993, when she debuted as a composer/keyboard player for the musical unit “See-Saw”. In 2002, their song “Annani Isho Dattanoni”, the ending theme for “Mobile Suit Gundam Seed” became a major hit.

Since then, Kajiura has produced several artists, such as “Kalafina”, and now she is well-known for composing and producing many anime theme songs as well as the music within film/TV series. In 2020, she composed the song “Homura” as the theme song of “Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train”, inviting LiSA on as the main vocalist as well as working on the lyrics with her. The song was selected for the 62nd JAPAN RECORD AWARDS.

In addition to anime, Kajiura has also made music for films such as “Achilles and the Tortoise”, directed and performed by Takeshi Kitano, NHK's history themed show “Rekishiwa Hysteria”, and the NHK drama series “Hanako to Anne”.

In April 2023, on her 30th debut anniversary, she released the long-awaited album “PARADE” under her personal music project “FictionJunction”. During the same year, in December, she brought her worldwide tour “Yuki Kajiura LIVE” to Nippon Budokan, launching the 2-day long “Kaji Fes. 2023”.