Fan Club Bulletin “G-NET” Final Issue — AZUKI Nana Essay

A farewell essay by lyricist AZUKI Nana, contributed to the final issue of GARNET CROW’s fan club newsletter, “G-NET.”

That GARNET CROW was able to keep going for thirteen long years fills me with gratitude. To the warm members and staff, to the fans... to everyone who supported us, cheered us on, and was involved with us, I am full of thanks. You gave me years that were truly, deeply happy.

And I feel an immense depth of emotion at the fact that we have left behind so many works, more than I could ever have imagined when we began.

The reality of those thirteen years was far heavier and longer than the impression contained in the single phrase “thirteen years,” and many things happened. During that time, there were countless joyful, happy, heartwarming moments; on the other hand, there were also times when both my body and mind became ill, and times when I lost sight of myself.

Within all of that, no matter what happened, writing lyrics was always a sacred act for me. It was time in which I allowed myself to enter something close to a trance state, and led myself there as well. And when creating works, if I am able to keep writing again from now on, I think I will keep seeking a voice like this: singular, and capable of stirring the deepest part of my chest.

Those thirteen years were a time when different things met and kept setting off chemical reactions. GARNET CROW, as one form that activity took, is coming to an end. But in the flow of time, where nothing can avoid ending or changing, this was an inevitability that would arrive someday. I cannot help wishing that the works we wove with everything we had will shine even more brightly in someone’s hands, and set off new chemical reactions again.

Until today, GARNET CROW has kept my life from losing its freshness, has continued to bring new and unknown doors before me, and has given me days in which I never grew tired of living.

And from here on too, within the fleeting consciousness we call life, I intend to follow my instincts, stay close to the things my soul answers to, and, even as I feel awe, spend this astonishing time I have been given.

To all of you, who at times may have drawn close in heart and resonated with us, and at other times may perhaps have felt dislike toward us, I hope that in the many days to come you will encounter much happiness.

It is frustrating that I can only express this in ordinary words, but truly, truly, thank you.