RIP Masahiko Shimura

Fujifabric - 打ち上げ花火

Genre: indie rock
Song style: starts up slow and floaty, builds up to a large rocking finale

It has been exactly two months now since vocalist and lyricist Masahiko Shimura of Fujifabric has left us. The same day, I was leaving Japan, sad and overwhelmed with the brief but packed trip I had there. That day, I experienced one Christmas Eve in Kyoto, one in Tokyo, and one in America. Little did I know that one of the greatest recent Japanese indie geniuses was leaving the world. This song is a great last testament to them, I often used it during my contemplative long walks home from work over the summer. Shimura died of unknown causes, December 24 2009, and was the last remaining original member of Fujifabric. The rest of the band has said they will try to play on, but it is impossible to imagine Fujifabric's style being preserved without Shimura. If you would like to hear a more upbeat song of their's, please check out 銀河 as well (most of their songs are blocked for youtube embedding). Rest in peace Masahiko Shimura, I will miss you.