Kaf

**KAF** (花譜(かふ), *kafu*) is a virtual singer from Kamitsubaki Studio. She is a member of V.W.P.

Her original musics are mainly written, composed and arranged by Kanzaki Iori, she has regularly published covers of other J-Pop and Vocaloid songs. Character design is done by PALOW.

She often appears with a flying fish named Laplace.

Kaf has a versatile, youthful voice that can easily reach high notes. Despite her innocent sound, she can also rap without seemingly much hardship and she can let her voice crack as can be heard in Hissei Yo.

## History

##### Background

Kaf has been interested in the world of song ever since she was a child, when she grew up listening to AKB48, which she found herself singing and dancing to. When she grew up, she discovered the Vocaloid and the *utattemita* scene, wherein singers cover songs from Vocaloid and JPop.

Kaf's road to become a professional singer started with her uploads to a karaoke app. While a mistake prevented her from doing official auditions, a producer discovered her and both them and Kaf were interested in her becoming a professional singer. However, Kaf was just 14 at that time.

Due to Kaf still having to attend school and thus having to balance a grown-out hobby with the daily school life, her mother suggested that Kaf would keep her true identity a secret, at least while she was still attending school. This kickstarted the idea of Kaf becoming a virtual singer.

Illustrator PALOW. then brought Kaf's virtual avatar to life, based on impressions from her. The basic idea was that of a baby bird but with a monster hidden within, as to represent that within her fragile voice, there is something mysterious lurking underneath. Thus, Kaf's first costume ended up being named *Hinadori* (lit. 'baby bird'), which still featured the signature monster hood that would become part of Kaf's trademark.

##### 2018

Kaf's Twitter and YouTube accounts were created on 16th October 2018. Her first tweet and video were uploaded 2 days later, on 18 October 2018, where she can be heard humming the melody of Hinadori. On 12th December 2018 she answered a question about her age revealing she was 14 at that time. Kaf released her first 2 original songs in December 2018: first Ito and later Heart & Trick.

She also recorded Majo as the image song for KOTODAMA TRIBE ver.0.5, an art exhibition to introduce KOTODAMA TRIBE. Because it is confirmed Harusaruhi and Isekaijoucho were members of KOTODAMA TRIBE, this explain the importance of Majo as a song.

At the end of the year, Kaf sang Majo at Count0, an event including several VTubers to celebrate the end of 2018.

##### 2019

On 30th January, Kaf announced in #14「休詩 」that she would temporary suspend her activities to prepare for high school entrance exams. She came back almost 2 months later, on 20th March with the song Hinadori.

She appeared at Nico Nico Net Chou Kaigi in april and released her first EP Hana to Shinzou (花と心臓) on 15th May. In May, she also held a Camp-fire crowdfunding for her first one-man live, exceeding all expectations and collecting more than 40 millions yen instead of the 5 millions target.

In June, Kaf sang Yoru ga furiyamu mae ni as a theme song for the movie "Hot Gimmick: Girl Meets Boy".

She held her first one man live Fukakai (不可解) on 1st october 2019 at LIQUIDROOM.

* 11/09/2019: Release of her first album Kansoku α / β
* 17/09/2019: Release of the MV Re:HEROINES for her collaboration with a smartphone game 47 HEROINES. It's a new arrangement of the game's theme song HEROINES.
* 22/11/2019: First exhibition of "3.5D by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO x PARCO" was held in Shibuya
* 25/12/2019: Release of her first remix album kansoku γ

##### 2020

* 23/03/2020: Fukakai (Re) (不可解(再)) was held at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo. Although the concert had to be canceled due to covid, it was decided to be performed in an empty venue, and livestreamed online on 4 platforms, with Youtube Live being one of them can only watch the first few songs for free.
* 07/04/2020: Release of the 129th episode of the anime "Black Clover" where she sings the ending song Answer
* 20/04/2020: She participated at the ZONe event IMMERSIVE SONG PROJECT, a collaboration project between the super-immersive energy drink "ZONe Ver.1.0.0" and popular artists, with the song Abnormal
* 07/2020: Release the song Confused Telepathy for her collaboration with Docomo. During the "HAYABUSA EXPERIENCE by 3.5D × docomo ONLINE EXHIBITION", exhibition event on the web to celebrate the 5G
* 09/07/2020: Release of the last episode of the anime "Japan Sinks: 2020" where she sings the ending song Landscape
* 22/07/2020: Release of her 2nd EP Hana to Kaitou "花と解答"
* 13/08/2020: Release of the song Hissei Yo as the PV theme song of novel 俺の残機を投下します by Yusuke Yamada
* 23/09/2020: Release of her collaboration song with Kizuna Ai #63「かりそめ」
* 10/10/2020: Fukakai 2 Q1 (不可解弐Q1) at virtual live house PANDORA.
* 18/11/2020: Release of the song Mel's Twilight for her collaboration with PC DAIV by mouse computer co.
* 25/11/2020: Release of her 2nd album Mahou α / β

##### 2021

* 13/03/2021: Fukakai 2 Q2 (不可解弐Q2) at virtual live house PANDORA. It was broadcasted on YouTube Live with free transmission of the entire show.
* 18/03/2021: Release of the song #77「ソレカラ」 for her collaboration with Kiminovel
* 19/05/2021: Release of an anime movie "Pompo: The Cinéphile" where she sings the theme song #80「例えば」
* 11-12/05/2021: Fukakai 2 REBUILDING (不可解弐REBUILDING)
* 30/06/2021: Release of single Becoming the Ocean
* 07/07/2021: Kafu a synthesis voice based on her own singing voice from CeVIO AI
* 14/10/2021: Release of a JRPG "Monark" where she sings the theme song ニヒル and an insert song Lost in Our World
* 18/10/2021: 3rd anniversary
* 27/10/2021: Release of her first Suite collaboration with real artists, Kagami yo kagami
* 30/11/2021: Release of the song #91「それを世界と言うんだね」 for her collaboration with Kiminovel
* 25/12/2021: Release of her 2nd remix album mahou γ

##### 2022

* 26/02/2022: Special live for her high school graduation
* 06/04/2022: First edition of her radio emission「ぱんぱかカフぃR（上京編）」
* 30/04/2022: She appeared at second day of the VTuber Fes Japan 2022
* 09/05/2022: Membership feature opened on her sub channel
* 24/08/2022: Fukakai 3 (MAD) (不可解参(狂)) at Budokan

## Kansoku

* main cover
* alpha
* beta

## Links

### Streaming

* Apple Music
* Youtube Music
* Spotify

### References

* MusicBrainz

**Kansoku** (観測(かんそく), *kansoku*), or translated as **Observation**, is **Kaf's** first album, and was released on 11/09/2019. PALOW. is in charge of the cover art of Kansoku α, while Kansoku β is done by shirone.

## Mahou

* alpha
* beta

## Links

### Streaming

* Apple Music
* Youtube Music
* spotify

### References

* MusicBrainz

**Mahou** (魔法(まほう), *mahou*), also translated as **Magic**, is **Kaf's** second major album, released on 25/11/2020. PALOW. is in charge of the cover art of Mahou α, while Mahou β's cover art is done by Shiro Usazaki.

## Costumes

Kaf currently has 3 main transformations and 6 special transformations from live concerts. Her main transformations are called 形態 (form) and her special transformations are called 特殊歌唱用形態 (special singing form). Each costume is named after and based on a different bird. All her costumes also have hoods that can be put on and off.

Kaf also has several other unnamed costumes used in various occasions that does not necessarily follow those rules.

### Hinadori - 雛鳥

Hinadori costumeHinadori summer versionHinadori black
Hinadori (full name: "First form: Hinadori" / "第一形態 雛鳥") means "baby bird" and is Kaf's first main costume. This costume has 2 variations: A "summer" version with a ligther jacket and short sleeves, and a black version (雛鳥黑) revealed in Re:HEROINES, later used in Fukakai 2 Q1 and Fukakai 2 Q1:RE.

### Aogara - 青雀

Aogara costumeAogara summer versionAogara black
Aogara (full name: "Second form: Aogara" / "第二形態 青雀") means "blue tit" and is Kaf's second main costume. It was revealed in 花譜 #52「深化」. This costume has 2 variations: A summer version without the black jacket, and a black version (青雀黑) used in fukakai 2 Q3.

### Tsubame - 燕

Tsubame costumeTsubame summer versionTsubame kai
Tsubame (full name: "Third form: Tsubame / 第三形態 燕") means "barn swallow" and is Kaf's third and current main costume. It was revealed in 花譜 #88「深化弐」 for Kaf's third anniversary. The costume has 2 variations, a white summer version and a black and red "broken" (壊) version.

### Hoshigarasu - 星鴉

Hoshigarasu costume
Hoshigarasu (full name: "Special singing form: Hoshigarasu" / "特殊歌唱用形態 星鴉") means "spotted nutcracker" and is a special transformation, used in Fukakai.

### Hayabusa - 隼

Hayabusa costumeHayabusa with the hood
Hayabusa (full name: "Special singing form: Hayabusa" / "特殊歌唱用形態 隼") means "falcon" and is a special transformation created for HAYABUSA EXPERIENCE by 3.5D × docomo, revealed in Confused Telepathy, and used in Fukakai 2 Q1 and Fukakai 2 Q1:RE.

### Kanaria - 金糸雀

Kanaria transformation (cyan)Kanaria transformation without the hood (yellow)
Kanaria (full name: "Special singing form: Kanaria" / "特殊歌唱用形態 金糸雀") means "canary" and is a special transformation, used in Fukakai 2 Q1 and Fukakai 2 Q1:RE. This costume changes colors gradually transitionning between bright yellow, cyan, green and deep blue.

### Ruribitaki - 瑠璃鶲

Ruribitaki transformationRuribitaki in its second form
Ruribitaki (full name: "Special singing form: Ruribitaki" / "特殊歌唱用形態 瑠璃鶲") means "red-flanked bluetail" and is a special transformation, created for Favric live. When the hood is off, the dress opens itself.

### Etopirika - 花魁鳥

Etopirika costumeEtopirika costume in liveEtopirika chicken danceEtoripika (full name: "Special witch singing form: Etoripika" / "魔女特殊歌唱用形態 花魁鳥") means "tufted puffin" and is a special transformation, used for V.W.P songs. The 5 costumes for V.W.P are named etopirika. The models received a visual update during V.W.P first one man live "The Phenomenon" named Etopirika (Revolution).

### Kinkei - 金鶏

Kinkei costumeKinkei costume without the hood
Kinkei (full name: "Special singing form: Kinkei" / "特殊歌唱用形態 金鶏") means "golden pheasant" and is a special transformation, used in Fukakai 2 Q3 and The Coven (魔女集会) JOINT LIVE. This costume's line patterns changes colors gradually transitioning between bright yellow and blue starting from the head part.

### Shamo - 軍鶏

Shamo costumeFront view
Shamo (full name: "Special singing form: Shamo" / "特殊歌唱用形態 軍鶏") . Shamo are certain breed of chickens used for cockfights. It and is a special transformation, used in Fukakai 3 (MAD). On her right thigh the word "MAD" can be read, and on her left thigh is the kanji 狂 (kyou). This outfit also feature a big rooster tail in its back.

### Other costumes

Those costumes do not have an official name.

#### School uniform

Highschool uniformHighschool uniform without the jacket
This outfit has been used in several live concerts and music videos.

#### Casual dress

Kaf's casual dress
This casual costume has been revealed in fukakai 3 (MAD).

## Trivia

* Her favorite food is ice cream

## References

1. ↑ Announcement of her hiatus - Kaf info 01/30/2019 https://twitter.com/kaf\_info/status/1090535100876414976
2. ↑ "tadaima" - Kaf, 20 March 2019 https://twitter.com/virtual\_kaf/status/1108291591100207104
3. ↑ Campfire crowdfunding for Fukakai https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/153477
4. ↑ 3.5D by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO x PARCO - https://www.moguravr.com/virtual-singer-kaf-19/
5. ↑ Announcement of her γ Album - Kaf info 12/03/2019 https://twitter.com/kaf\_info/status/1201788350220259328?s=20&t=hGax6vXZ8VvMz3ODmbbaWg
6. ↑ Livestream of Fukakai (Re) that was canceled due to coronavirus https://www.guidoor.jp/media/kaf-fukakai-re-live/
7. ↑ IMMERSIVE SONG PROJECT https://www.kayac.com/news/2020/04/zone
8. ↑ Kaf\_u - https://kaf-u.kamitsubaki.jp/
9. ↑ KAF 3rd Anniversary official site - https://kaf3rdanniversary.kamitsubaki.jp/
10. ↑ Collaboration with Real Artists - https://kaf3rdanniversary.kamitsubaki.jp/project/kumikyoku/
11. ↑ Second Album Remix version - https://kaf3rdanniversary.kamitsubaki.jp/project/mahou\_gamma/
12. ↑ Announcement of her participation of the Vtuber Fest - https://twitter.com/vtuberfes\_jp/status/1504447981017526273
13. ↑ Membership - https://kamitsubaki.jp/news/2022/05/08/1404/
14. ↑ Fukakai 3 (MAD) - https://fukakai3.kamitsubaki.jp/