JOINT — THAT song that revived the fire in me again

Welcome back, everyone! How is life, eh? For me, it has been a steady life since my blog post about the opening theme song of BokuYaba season 2,「僕は…」. I will try to publish more content with the help of ChatGPT, speeding up the editorial process and structuring my blog posts in a way that suits my requests. Anyway, that song is bursting with sweetness and the awkward thrill of young love, and captures those small, clumsy emotions we all feel when love first starts to bloom. It was a good one, I tell ya. 

Shana and Yuji are fighting together...Remember this?

But today, we’re moving from soft and passionate pinks to blazing reds — from innocence to intensity. What am I gonna talk about, you ask? Well, it is the 1st opening theme song of Shakugan no Shana season 2, JOINT by Kawada Mami. Yes, it’s not a soft song — it’s a flame, a fiery and fiercely burning one. BUT, just like 「僕は…」, it is more than just fiery passion. It is much deeper than that. I want to explain why it still captures my heart ever since last week when I revisited the song. Let's go!

WARNING:-

Although this post is just me talking about a certain anime song, there might be SPOILERS from the anime. If you plan to watch the anime without any spoilers, you can continue reading or move on.

P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it, you HAVE been warned.

Introduction

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Single cover

Released in 2007 as the first opening theme of Shakugan no Shana II, Joint (stylised as JOINT) was composed and produced by I’ve Sound, with lyrics by Mami Kawada herself. JOINT is part of the single of the same name became her 2nd most successful single, behind the single No Buts! that was released 3 years later. Two years prior, she wrote the 1st opening song 緋色の空 (Hishoku no Sora) of Shakugan no Shana season 1, which is also part of a single of the same name that became her 3rd most successful single at number 11 in the Oricon chart.

The album cover

This song will then be released once again in the album SAVIA a year later. The album contains two songs from the single JOINT: JOINT and triangle. What is "triangle", you asked? Well, it is the 1st ending theme song of Shakugan no Shana season 2. There are two other theme songs bundled into this album: 赤い涙 (Akai Namida), the insert song for Shakugan no Shana Movie and Get My Way!, the 2nd ending theme song for Hayate no Gotoku. I did not watch Hayate no Gotoku before, but I think I should take some time to watch it one day. ONE DAY.

The MV thumbnail

Back to the topic. ChatGPT said that the song’s driving rhythm, layered electronic production, and emotional vocal delivery make it one of the standout anime openings of its time. Initially, I was cautious of this statement because AI do make up stuff from time to time. So, I checked it up myself and realised one thing: the AI hits its mark this time. How do I know? I found out from Wikipedia that, at its peak, it ranked at number 9 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. It remained on there for 19 weeks, which makes it Kawada Mami's highest-ranking and longest-lasting single. THAT is the seal of approval from me because Oricon is really prestigious when it comes to its ranking of Japanese songs. I'm not sure about now, but it was the case back in those times. OK, back to the song.

Yuuji and Shana fight together

Anyway, I agree with ChatGPT that lyrically, JOINT tells a story about a connection born through struggle — about the fragile yet powerful bond between two people who fight side by side. It expresses not only Shana’s fierce determination but also her evolving humanity and emotional depth as she learns to open her heart to Yuji. Well, in an interview, Kawada Mami did mention the change in impression on Yuji between the two seasons: First season, following behind Shana; Second season, walking together with Shana and providing her support during her battles. Yep, we can be sure of that already. It's quite what she went with when making this song. OK, let's move on. It's getting a bit too long here.

Lyrics

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Original

再び見る世界は
塵と残像 淡い影

その全てを背負う覚悟がある
凛とした背中には

どうしたいの？ どうして？
孤独な旅 そう决めたはずだったのに

この手を離さないで
君から伝わる思いから
心に眠る願いが目覚める
強い視線の彼方
迷いない二人の姿が見える
だから進むの 更なる時へ

砕けてく風景に
生きる事の奇跡を知る

特別の意味求め
彷徨い歩く道なき道を

信じたいの 信じて
共に行くと そう决めて欲しかったから

瞳をそらさないで
うまく言葉にできないけど
胸の深く君を求めている
希望の遥か彼方
迷いない二人の姿が見える
だから進むの 次なる場所へ

悔しさや悲しみが
今までそれ以上の喜びを教えてくれた

そして、隣にいつも必ず
君という存在があるという事も

感じるでしょ

もう何も怖くなんてない

この手を握り締めて
君にしか出せない力が
夢を現実に変えてゆくから
強い視線の彼方
迷いない二人の姿が見える
だから進むの 更なる時へ

Yuuji and Shana together

Romaji

futatabi miru sekai wa
chiri to zanzou  awai kage

rin to shita senaka ni wa

sono subete wo seou kakugo ga aru

dou shitai no? dou shite?

kodoku na tabi  sou kimeta hazu datta no ni

kono te wo hanasanaide

kimi kara tsutawaru omoi kara

kokoro ni nemuru negai ga mezameru

tsuyoi shisen no kanata

mayoi nai futari no sugata ga mieru

dakara susumu no  sara naru toki e

kudaketeku fuukei ni

ikiru koto no kiseki wo shiru

tokubetsu no imi motome

samayoiaruku michi naki michi wo

shinjitai no  shinjite

tomo ni yuku to  sou kimete hoshikatta kara

hitomi wo sorasanaide

umaku kotoba ni dekinai kedo

mune no fukaku kimi wo motomete iru

kibou no haruka kanata

mayoi nai futari no sugata ga mieru

dakara susumu no  tsugi naru basho e

kanjiru desho

mou nani mo kowaku nante nai

kono te wo nigirishimete

kimi ni shika dasenai chikara ga

yume wo genjitsu ni kaete yuku kara

tsuyoi shisen no kanata

mayoi nai futari no sugata ga mieru

dakara susumu no  sara naru toki e

Shana vs Sabarac

English Translation

The world that I've returned to is nothing but

Dust, afterimages, and faint shadows.

I’ve found the resolve to bear every weight,

Standing tall, unshaken.

What do I want? Why do I…?

I thought I had decided to walk the path of solitude—

Don’t let go of me.

The warmth from your hand, your thoughts...

They're awakening my dormant wish.

Beyond that unwavering gaze,

I see the two of us — without hesitation.

That’s why we'll move forward —

Toward the time that lies ahead.

In a world breaking apart,

I come to know the miracle of simply being alive.

Seeking a special meaning,
I wander through paths unmarked, unmade.

I want to believe — believe with me

To have faith and walk together with me.

Do not avert your eyes.

I can't express it well in words,

But I want you from the depths of my heart.

In the distance far beyond our hope,

The outlines of two adamant figures are visible,

So we'll keep going forward, to the next place.

Our frustration and sorrow —
They’ve taught me joy greater than anything before.
And I’ve come to know this truth:

By my side,

You'll always be there.

You can feel it too, can’t you?

There’s nothing to fear anymore.

Hold my hand tight.
Because the strength that only you possess
Will turn our dreams into reality.
Beyond that steadfast gaze,
I see the two of us — unwavering, unafraid.
That’s why we go on —
Toward the time that awaits beyond.

Another denizen dead, another Shana win

Note: Taken from Anime Song Lyrics, using ChatGPT to help me finish my version of the lyrics translation in English. This time I went for poetic. It is a much better fit for what I want.

Chinese Translation

再次所见的世界

尽是尘与光的残影

再次所见的世界

尽是尘埃与残影，淡淡的光与影。

我已准备好去背负

这所有一切。

我已下定决心，
将这一切背负于肩，
那凛然的背影——

“你想怎样？为什么？”

不是已经决定独自一人

踏上这孤独的旅程了吗？

请不要放开这只手。

从你传来的思念里，

让我沉睡的愿望在心底苏醒。

在那坚定的目光尽头，

我看见两道不再迷惘的身影。

所以我要前行——

奔向更远的未来。

那破碎风景

教我懂得活着的奇迹

追寻那独特的意义

在无路之路上前进

我想相信，也希望你相信

我要与你一起走下去。

请不要移开视线。

虽难以言喻，

但我在心底深处渴望着你。

在希望的遥远彼方

又看见那对不再迷惘的身影

所以我前行——

奔向下一个地方

曾经的悔恨与悲伤，

教会了我何为更深的喜悦。

而我也明白——

你始终都在我身边。

你感受到了吧？

我们已无所畏惧。

紧紧握住这双手吧。

因为你独有的力量，

能将梦化为真实。

在那坚定目光的尽头，

我依然看见——

那对无所迷惘的身影。

所以我要前行，

奔向更远的未来。

Shana in battle mode

Note: This translation was made with the help of ChatGPT.

Malay Translation

Dunia yang kulihat sekali lagi,

hanya debu dan bayang yang pudar.

Pada belakang yang teguh itu,

tersimpan tekad menanggung segalanya.

“Apa yang kau mahu? Kenapa?”

Bukankah telah kuputuskan,

untuk menempuh perjalanan seorang diri?

Namun…

Jangan lepaskan tangan ini.

Dari hangatnya rasa yang kau kirim,

terjaga satu doa yang lama terpendam di hati.

Di hujung pandangan yang tegas itu,

aku melihat dua bayang tanpa ragu.

Kerana tu — aku melangkah,

menuju masa depan yang lebih jauh.

Dalam lanskap yang retak berhamburan,

aku belajar erti keajaiban hidup.

Mencari makna yang istimewa,

menyusuri jalan yang tiada arah.

Aku ingin percaya — dan berharap kau pun percaya,

kerana aku ingin berjalan bersamaku.

Jangan alihkan pandangan itu.

Meski sukar aku ungkap dengan kata,

Hatiku mendambakanmu di setiap doa.

Di balik harapan yang jauh terbentang,

aku melihat dua jiwa tanpa ragu.

Kerana itu — aku melangkah,

menuju tempat yang seterusnya.

Kekecewaan dan kesedihan,

telah mengajarku makna gembira yang sejati.

Dan kini aku tahu —

di sisiku, selalu ada dirimu.

Kau rasa, bukan?

Tiada lagi yang perlu kutakuti.

Genggam erat tangan ini,

kerana hanya dari dirimu,

lahir kekuatan yang mampu

mengubah mimpi menjadi nyata.

Di hujung pandangan yang tegas itu,

aku melihat dua bayang tanpa ragu.

Kerana itu — aku melangkah,

menuju waktu yang lebih jauh.

Shana, the battle gamer

Note: For this one, I almost completely depend on ChatGPT for this translation. Well, I did edit a bit, but very minimally, as it fits quite well with what I want.

Commentary

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Shana solo...well, part of the opening sequence

Oh, time for some comments from me? OK. I already used ChatGPT to help me formulate it. Not because I can't, but because it's much faster to do so. Anyway, the song JOINT has lit up such a fire in me that I couldn't stop listening to it repeatedly. The song expresses the tension between solitude and companionship. Shana initially starts her Flame Haze journey in solitude and bearing the weight of keeping the balance of the world. 

再び見る世界は塵と残像、淡い影。
その全てを背負う覚悟がある、凛とした背中には。

That determination to follow that path of solitude is broken once she first meets Yuuji in one of her missions in Misaki City. That meeting changed everything. Shana started to yearn for companionship. That change is reflected in this part of the lyrics:

どうしたいの？ どうして？
孤独な旅 そう决めたはずだったのに

The song effectively captures the change in Shana's mentality in the anime. I agree with ChatGPT that the song name JOINT implies a link, fusion or a shared point, and it precisely defines Shana's emotional journey. Throughout the second season, both Shana and Yuji grapple with their identities, fears, and the meaning of strength. The song’s lyrics capture this duality: the desire to fight alone and the realisation that true strength can only emerge through connection. 

Shana smile

As for musical wise, I would like to just reiterate what ChatGPT gave me:

Musically, the song embodies this dual theme. The verses are tense and sharp, carried by a pulsing electronic beat and Kawada’s restrained vocals, symbolising Shana’s inner turmoil and guarded emotions.

Well, well, what a way to put it. Shana's inner turmoil is well expressed in this song — the tension between her solitary path as Flame Haze and her desire to be with Yuji. And then ChatGPT continues:

When the chorus erupts, it feels liberating — a moment of emotional release, echoing her acceptance of Yuji’s presence in her life. The production shifts from tight control to soaring melody, creating a sonic metaphor for unity born out of conflict.

Well, well, ChatGPT, you know me really well, eh? Anyway, ChatGPT is right. Whenever I sing the chorus, it gives me a channel for an emotional release and a channel to echo my restrained emotions. What a beauty this song is!

Shana and Yuji did it

As for the lyrics, the song presents us with the change in Shana after meeting Yuji. Vivid imagery was used to present Shana's emotional resilience in the midst of changing circumstances and the change of mind. Rather than a simple love song, JOINT becomes a declaration of Shana's will: a commitment to fight, not just against external enemies, but also against her old ways. In that sense, it encapsulates both Shana’s flame and Yuji’s humanity — two forces “joint” in purpose, just as this part of the lyrics that is repeated in every chorus:

迷いない二人の姿が見える

This part implies that the two of them are moving forward together with strong determination and no ounce of hesitation. This vivid imagery describes season 2 really well. In the midst of hardship and challenges, they walk together and try to overcome them with no hesitation, whether it be in battle or in life. Well, there is that love triangle in season 2, but this is not the focus of this song, nor the focus of what I wanna talk about. Dang, I already have too many different versions of how ChatGPT would write this blog post. I will just stick to this and move on. Otherwise, my writing pace will be greatly slowed down, which defeats the purpose of using AI for my writing. Let's move on.

Shana, Yuuji, Yoshida...that love triangle...

Conclusion

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This scene from Bel-Peol.

It's been many years since I last took note of this song and watched the anime, but its raw emotion, energy and nostalgia once again resurface and refuse to fade. Starting from last week, I kept this song on repeat. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded of what it means to fight with someone, not just for something.

Pheles

During my simple study of the song's lyrics, although I already knew them, studying them just makes it...I dunno, maybe 刻骨铭心? OK, ChatGPT gave me good suggestions on how to express this. I will pick one of the suggestions and say it once again:

During my simple study of the song's lyrics, although I already knew them, studying them again only made the song burn brighter within me — every line feels carved into my memory now. It just resonates so deeply in my heart now. 

The more I know this song, the more the passion and raw emotion burn within me. The more the passion burns, the more I will sing along. The more I sing along, the more I try my best to sing it right. The more I sing it right, the more it engraves in me and the more I know this song. Dang, it is legit a closed loop at this point

Pheles is using her powers

Just as ChatGPT said it really well:

JOINT is a song about the moment two souls meet and choose to share their strength. It’s about connection, courage, and the beauty of being seen — completely, vulnerably, and honestly.

Well, that's probably why it resonates so deeply with me, because in the end, we want that, that, that very one person who allows us and even fans that flame in us to make our life meaningful in the midst of the world falling into true nihilism — the one destructive black hole that makes one willing to destroy themselves and others around them with no remorse. Also, just like Shana, I start out guarded, determined, thinking solitude is strength, but somewhere along the way, I realise that the fire burns brighter when shared. Unfortunately, unlike Shana, I do not have that one person who would protect my flame, not even fanning it in the darkest of circumstances. 

Hecate and Fumine

Well, that's the end. What do you think of the blog post? It is slightly different from what I used to write. I actually like it, and yes, it is done with the help of AI. I really like it. ChatGPT allows me to write faster and gives me more space to add my human touch to it. Anyway, do comment on what you see in my collab with ChatGPT. I decided to go with one AI to reduce my workload of cross-checking different AIs and try to merge what essentially is the same thing. I do not want to repeat the same thing too many times.

Disappearing steps...I will leave it at that

Oh, a few more things before I leave. Man, I really start to miss those anime that I used to watch. It was such beautiful and chill days. I remember that the ending of season 2 really left me hanging. Well, if you know what I mean, you will know. Also, as I was wrapping up this post, I realised that I had too few screenshots from season 2 because I was doing everything about Shana in one go back when I first started that initial post. I didn't even add much back when I was revisiting the anime. Oh, actually, you know what? The ending of this post is getting a bit too long. AHEM! Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading and browsing this blog. Goodbye, and God bless you!

Shana...you are as cute as I remember.

Another Shana cute moment...although with blood