Haruka Shimotsuki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
singer and dōjin music
composer known for her vocal themes in the Atelier Iris and Ar tonelico
series. She also wrote the lyrics and sang the ending themes to the two seasons of Rozen Maiden
as well as the OVA under the name Kukui
, with Myu. Shimotsuki's original music mainly consists of ethnic and fantasy music, and most of her songs are soft in tone. She likes video games, and is a big fan of the Tales series.
under the names Maple Leaf and tieLeaf; tieLeaf is a collaborative circle with Ao Sorano and Nao Hiyama. The group has a seventy-two-page dōjinshi
, one CD entitled Tsukioi no Toshi (also called Leozet Lag Ecliss in its own original language, the Lag-Quara language), a manga and novel text story book that was twenty-eight pages, and a single CD with the same name as the book, Lip-Aura, a side-story of Tsukioi no Toshi. Another project by tieLeaf, an adventure titled Neji Maku Tsuki, serves as a tie-in to Tsukioi no Toshi.
She gained attention after singing the ending theme "Tōmei Shelter" for Rozen Maiden
under the name Refio+Shimotsuki Haruka. After singing "Tōmei Shelter", she and Myu (a member of Refio) formed the band Kukui
. Shimotsuki has also formed a group with Rekka Katakiri
and Chata
many times, and they have been good friends for a long time. As an independent singer, she was once a supporting member of Sound Horizon
, and made an appearance as a guest singer in their 2006 concert. She took a more major role in Sound Horizon
's album Moira and performed in the corresponding live concerts in 2008 and 2009. Haruka Shimotsuki held a solo concert, : Haruka Shimotsuki Solo Live Lv.1 on August 10, 2006. Her second solo concert, Haruka Shimotsuki solo live Lv.2: , was held on July 13, 2008.
Besides singing, composing and writing the lyrics for the opening and ending themes for the PC visual novel
Relict: Toki no Wasuremono, she also composed about seven background music
tracks for the game. Wind
and string instruments are heavily used for the tracks, and she was able to exhibit her talent in ethnic music. This was her first time in composing songs for a game, and her feelings at that time were recorded in the booklet attached to the Image Soundtrack of the game. In the PlayStation 2
game Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
, she composed and performed the songs of one of the heroines, Aurica Nestmille, and took part in singing the ending theme "EXEC_PHANTASMAGORIA/.". She later took part in the sequel Ar tonelico II Sekai ni Hibiku Shōjo-tachi no Metafalica as the singing voice of one of the heroines, Luca Truelywaath, and took part in the ending song "EXEC_with.METHOD_METAFALICA/.".
In November 2009, she had another concert, Haruka Shimotsuki Original Fantasy Concert 2009 -FEL ARY ARIA-, was held at NIPPON SEINEN-KAN HALL featuring all her songs from Tindharia no Tane and a select few from Griotte no Nemurihime. It was later released on DVD on February 24, 2010.
version Princess Maker
4 theme song; released October 26, 2005) (Collaboration single with Revo of Sound Horizon
; released June 14, 2006) (Released September 26, 2007) (TV anime H2O: Footprints in the Sand
ending theme and insert song; released February 22, 2008)
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer and dōjin music
Dojin music
, also called in Japan, is a sub-category of dōjin activity. Dōjin are basically non-official self-published Japanese works which can be based on official products or completely original creations...
composer known for her vocal themes in the Atelier Iris and Ar tonelico
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia, released in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 console role-playing game produced by Banpresto and Gust. There were other media releases based on the game, including the comic Ar tonelico -arpeggio-, the OVA Ar tonelico, and several drama CDs.The story begins on the...
series. She also wrote the lyrics and sang the ending themes to the two seasons of Rozen Maiden
Rozen Maiden
is a manga series created by Peach-Pit. The story centers on Jun Sakurada, a young hikikomori boy that forms a bond with Shinku, a living doll of the "Rozen Maiden" series, who was created by the mysterious dollmaker Rozen hundreds of years ago...
as well as the OVA under the name Kukui
Kukui (band)
Kukui is a Japanese band consisting of Haruka Shimotsuki and Myu . They have produced songs for anime and games, most notably the Rozen Maiden anime series.-History:...
, with Myu. Shimotsuki's original music mainly consists of ethnic and fantasy music, and most of her songs are soft in tone. She likes video games, and is a big fan of the Tales series.
Career
Haruka Shimotsuki started her career in 2001 beginning with singing main themes for games, and writing and composing songs. She started releasing her dōjin musicDojin music
, also called in Japan, is a sub-category of dōjin activity. Dōjin are basically non-official self-published Japanese works which can be based on official products or completely original creations...
under the names Maple Leaf and tieLeaf; tieLeaf is a collaborative circle with Ao Sorano and Nao Hiyama. The group has a seventy-two-page dōjinshi
Dojinshi
is the Japanese term for self-published works, usually magazines, manga or novels. Dōjinshi are often the work of amateurs, though some professional artists participate as a way to publish material outside the regular industry. The term dōjinshi is derived from and . Dōjinshi are part of a wider...
, one CD entitled Tsukioi no Toshi (also called Leozet Lag Ecliss in its own original language, the Lag-Quara language), a manga and novel text story book that was twenty-eight pages, and a single CD with the same name as the book, Lip-Aura, a side-story of Tsukioi no Toshi. Another project by tieLeaf, an adventure titled Neji Maku Tsuki, serves as a tie-in to Tsukioi no Toshi.
She gained attention after singing the ending theme "Tōmei Shelter" for Rozen Maiden
Rozen Maiden
is a manga series created by Peach-Pit. The story centers on Jun Sakurada, a young hikikomori boy that forms a bond with Shinku, a living doll of the "Rozen Maiden" series, who was created by the mysterious dollmaker Rozen hundreds of years ago...
under the name Refio+Shimotsuki Haruka. After singing "Tōmei Shelter", she and Myu (a member of Refio) formed the band Kukui
Kukui (band)
Kukui is a Japanese band consisting of Haruka Shimotsuki and Myu . They have produced songs for anime and games, most notably the Rozen Maiden anime series.-History:...
. Shimotsuki has also formed a group with Rekka Katakiri
Rekka Katakiri
, born December 18, is a female Japanese singer. Her doujin circle is called CLOSED/UNDERGROUND.- About :* Influenced by anime, she started working in the fields as a vocal, net seiyuu, composer and lyricist when she first started high school. In 2004, she released the album "Min no Uta." as her...
and Chata
Chata
is a Japanese singer who has performed theme songs for games and anime.She has also participated in various dōjin music circles. Her own private circle is called Usagi Kinoko.-History:...
many times, and they have been good friends for a long time. As an independent singer, she was once a supporting member of Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon, abbreviated by fans as Sanhora , is a Japanese musical group with composer Revo as the leader. They call themselves the "fantasy band" and have released their works that closely resemble suites.-History:...
, and made an appearance as a guest singer in their 2006 concert. She took a more major role in Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon, abbreviated by fans as Sanhora , is a Japanese musical group with composer Revo as the leader. They call themselves the "fantasy band" and have released their works that closely resemble suites.-History:...
's album Moira and performed in the corresponding live concerts in 2008 and 2009. Haruka Shimotsuki held a solo concert, : Haruka Shimotsuki Solo Live Lv.1 on August 10, 2006. Her second solo concert, Haruka Shimotsuki solo live Lv.2: , was held on July 13, 2008.
Besides singing, composing and writing the lyrics for the opening and ending themes for the PC visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
Relict: Toki no Wasuremono, she also composed about seven background music
Background music
Although background music was by the end of the 20th century generally identified with Muzak or elevator music, there are several stages in the development of this concept.-Antecedents:...
tracks for the game. Wind
Wind instrument
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator , in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of...
and string instruments are heavily used for the tracks, and she was able to exhibit her talent in ethnic music. This was her first time in composing songs for a game, and her feelings at that time were recorded in the booklet attached to the Image Soundtrack of the game. In the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia, released in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 console role-playing game produced by Banpresto and Gust. There were other media releases based on the game, including the comic Ar tonelico -arpeggio-, the OVA Ar tonelico, and several drama CDs.The story begins on the...
, she composed and performed the songs of one of the heroines, Aurica Nestmille, and took part in singing the ending theme "EXEC_PHANTASMAGORIA/.". She later took part in the sequel Ar tonelico II Sekai ni Hibiku Shōjo-tachi no Metafalica as the singing voice of one of the heroines, Luca Truelywaath, and took part in the ending song "EXEC_with.METHOD_METAFALICA/.".
In November 2009, she had another concert, Haruka Shimotsuki Original Fantasy Concert 2009 -FEL ARY ARIA-, was held at NIPPON SEINEN-KAN HALL featuring all her songs from Tindharia no Tane and a select few from Griotte no Nemurihime. It was later released on DVD on February 24, 2010.
Dōjin albums
- Ciel Etoile (BGM arrange album for KeyKey (company)Key is a Japanese visual novel studio which formed on July 21, 1998 as a brand under the publisher Visual Art's and is located in Kita, Osaka, Japan. Key released their debut visual novel Kanon in June 1999, which combined an elaborate storyline, an up-to-date anime-style drawing style, and a...
's Air) (October 2001) - Sacred Doors Vol.1 (October 2001)
- Reed+ (BGM arrange album for the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Ragnarok OnlineRagnarok OnlineRagnarok Online , often referred to as RO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG created by GRAVITY Co., Ltd. based on the manhwa Ragnarok by Lee Myung-jin. It was first released in South Korea on 31 August 2002 for Microsoft Windows and has since been released in many other...
) (October 2002) (December 30, 2002) - Impronta/ (October 19, 2003) (Under the name tieLeaf) (December 30, 2005)
- Maple Leaf Box (December 29, 2006)
- Lip Aura (Tsukioi no Toshi side-story) (August 17, 2007): Sacred Doors Another Tale (August 16, 2008) (Aug 15, 2010) - with arcane753 circle composed of Manyo (composition/arrangement), Nao Hiyama (lyrics) and Shimotsuki (vocals) (December 29, 2010) - with arcane753 circle (with Marie as guest vocalist) (August 13, 2011)
Commercial singles
(PS2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version Princess Maker
Princess Maker
is a series of Japanese life simulation bishōjo games by the computer game and anime production company Gainax. The first Princess Maker, while popular enough to be translated into Chinese, was never released in the United States. Princess Maker 2 was translated by for a North American release,...
4 theme song; released October 26, 2005) (Collaboration single with Revo of Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon
Sound Horizon, abbreviated by fans as Sanhora , is a Japanese musical group with composer Revo as the leader. They call themselves the "fantasy band" and have released their works that closely resemble suites.-History:...
; released June 14, 2006) (Released September 26, 2007) (TV anime H2O: Footprints in the Sand
H2O: Footprints in the Sand
H2O: Footprints in the Sand is a Japanese adult visual novel by Makura that was released on June 23, 2006 for the PC as a DVD; a version playable on the PlayStation 2 under the title H2O + followed on April 24, 2008 with adult content removed, but in its place will be additional scenarios and...
ending theme and insert song; released February 22, 2008)
- "break time" (Web radio program Frost Moon Cafe opening and ending theme; released April 8, 2009) (PSPPlayStation PortableThe is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
game Dice Dice Fantasia theme song; released December 23, 2009) (PS3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
game Last RebellionLast RebellionLast Rebellion is a console role-playing video game developed by Nippon Ichi Software and Hit Maker and published by Nippon Ichi Software in Japan as well as in North America and Tecmo Koei in Europe exclusively for the PlayStation 3...
ending song; released February 10, 2010)
Commercial albums
(Released September 22, 2005) (Released February 28, 2007) (Released June 25, 2008) (Released October 14, 2009) (Released April 14, 2010)- Innocent Grey Haruka Shimotsuki Collection (Released January 14, 2011) (Released February 23, 2011)
Games
- Akai Ito Original Soundtrack (November 3, 2004): Progressive Memories (December 1, 2004) (April 20, 2005)
- Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana 2~Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of DestinyAtelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny, released in Japan as , is a console role-playing game developed by Japanese developer Gust for the PlayStation 2....
Original Soundtrack (May 18, 2005): Manie (August 19, 2005) - Atelier Iris ~Eternal Mana 2~ Original Drama Vol. 2 (October 5, 2005)
- Ar tonelicoAr tonelico: Melody of ElemiaAr tonelico: Melody of Elemia, released in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 console role-playing game produced by Banpresto and Gust. There were other media releases based on the game, including the comic Ar tonelico -arpeggio-, the OVA Ar tonelico, and several drama CDs.The story begins on the...
Hymmnos concert side Crimson Tsuki Kanade: Tsuki Kanade (January 25, 2006) (Under the name MW, a duet with Rekka Katakiri; released January 27, 2006) (March 21, 2006) (June 21, 2006): Ar tonelico Hymmnos Musical (August 30, 2006): Ar tonelico Hymmnos Musical (February 28, 2007) (May 5, 2007) (May 30, 2007) (October 10, 2007) (October 24, 2007) - Clear: Visitor of Another Air Full Voice Edition (April 20, 2008) (August 15, 2008) (January 27, 2010) (November 10, 2010) (December 22, 2010) (February 23, 2010)
- -HISTORIA- (Radiant HistoriaRadiant Historiais a role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. The game's development team mostly consists of Atlus staff who previously worked on Megami Tensei games like Persona 3, Strange Journey, Nocturne and the Etrian Odyssey series. The development team also includes...
ending theme.) with composer Yoko ShimomuraYoko Shimomurais a Japanese video game composer. She has been described as "the most famous female video game music composer in the world". She has worked in the video game music industry since graduating from Osaka College of Music in 1988...
(November 3, 2010)