New Photobook and calendar

Just a reminder for those who may not know or remember...

Gackt’s 2008 calendar will be onsale 11/02/07

Gackt’s new photobook will be onsale 11/30/07

The calendar is up for presale for a bit cheaper at cdjapan than yesasia

the photobook is only up for presale at yesasia.

Suggested retail is about $27.50, it is currently about $38.49

Follow up to Furin Kazan Price Insanity

As a follow up...

I received a prompt response from CDjapan to my question about the price, however it didn’t clear much up.

their reply was...

"Hi Andrea,

Thank you for contacting us.

I looked into it.

This item Furin Kazan Box 1 contained 1st to 27th episode, which has total 50 episode. Each episode takes 45mins so it’s quite a lot in box 1.

Therefore it cost almost US$400.

Should you require any further assistance, please feel free to contact us again."

Well... Stargate is known all over the world, its a huge series with such a strong following it has its own worldwide conventions, and I can get over 10 seasons, over 200 episodes, 52 minutes per episode for $275.

and it comes with subtitle options, and a special on each DVD.

So the explination that half a show with each episode just being barely over half an hour long, only made for region 2 dvds and no subtitle options, made it worth $400 just didn’t sit with me.

So I sent an open letter to NHK hoping they will have better answers.

I will let you know what they have to say if they reply. I’m hoping to convince them that if Japan entertainment wants to begin dominating the world, they have to start by being accessable to normal pay check to paycheck joes.

personally, as much as I love Gackt - I’ll wait for his live concert before I pull any money from my trip to Japan savings.

I can’t in good conscience recommend paying that much for half of a show.

I’ll keep you posted.

Furin Kazan up for pre-order... but um...

Wow.

The first half of Fuuin Kazan is on DVD and up for pre-order on cdjapan.co.jp

HOWEVER... before you rush out to put in your order, be aware.

You will need a region 2 DVD player or computer DVD ability, and this does NOT have english subtitle options!

Also...

The first 27 episodes will set you back 42000 yen (about $367 US) So that will be close to $800.00 when all is said and done.

Why the Extreme price? Will the price go down to something normal? I’m going to try to find out for you. Fuurin Kazan is a good show, but to be honest with you all... $700 for a box set of a show is kind of nuts unless you have money to throw away.

I know its a special import and all... but that’s a bit extreme.

I sent an open letter to Cdjapan’s information center in hopes they can clear this up for us.

The letter states...

-----------------------

"To whom it may concern,

I was very excited to see the box set for Furin Kazan going up for sale, and was ready to announce it on my Gackt website...

then I saw the price.

almost $400 US for half a show? almost $800 when the second half is released?!

WHY?

I’m wondering if this is a rip off, because I can get 100 episodes of animes, or 100 epsiodes of TV shows, and Japanese imported RARE movies/concerts/tv-shows for HALF that...

For example... I have all of the Stargate episodes, and about 5 boxsets (100 episodes) set me back $250.00

100 eps for $300 vs. 49 eps for $800

Can you explain this? I can’t even imagine that being a good price in Japan...

Was it dipped in gold?! are the CDs encrusted with diamonds?

Are you going to sell a copy of the show for those of us who don’t have money trees growing in our backyard?

Sincerely, (Ara)

----------------------

So I’ll let you know what their reply is.

I’m hoping against hope they say there’s something special about this import and there will be a more cost effective one on its way.

Before flying over to Yesasia.com... Furin Kazan is selling for $383 there.

0_o errr.



Screw the special booklet that comes with it... GACKT better be coming with the boxsets for that price!!!!

Hatchi Matchi!

I’ll keep you all posted.

<3>

Gackt's world wide take over

This is fairly big Gackt news.

It wasn’t enough that he starred in the ever so awesome Fuurin Kazan...

or that he picked up a fan base of Gackt obsessed, drooling 40 to 60 year olds (and older) because of this role

or that he is the first Asain artist to release his entire discography on I-tunes in 22 countries

Or because two of his DVDs were released in America and Canada recently to high sales numbers

or because starting today, (10/26/07) Gackt’s Diabolos will be sold in over 18 european countries.

Now he gets an honor held at the Apple store in Ginza where there was a press event for his world-wide advancements.

Gackt always said he’d be taking over the world... and he’s starting to show signs of doing it!

Gackt said that he still has a long way to go, and he wants to tour Europe, America & Asia and bring Japanese culture to the world.

he was also quoted as saying something to the effect: Fans around the world have been waiting... the time has finally come!

There’s no stoping him now!

There’s no stopping him from touring the world!

There’s no stopping him from coming to America!

There’s no stopping him from giving me free front row tickets and a backstage pass to his show!

Oh COME ON! A girl can dream ne?

In other Japan News.

Gackt’s Fuurin Kazan Co-star, Uchino Maasaki who plays main character Yamamoto Kansuke, finally tied the knot with long time girlfriend and mother of his 1 year old daughter Rio, former Takarazuka star, Ichiro Maki.

They met while working on the musical "Elizabeth", and got engaged in 2006. Congrats to both!

(Thanks to Gakuhai for the pic, and to Anaria for the heads up on the news.)

Gackt on a magazine... Again. ^_^

Gackt graces the cover of this week's, Weekley ファミ , magazine. (Weekly Famitsu)

You can order the magazine HERE

Thanks to Gakuhai for the heads up.

Gackt's looking good, ne?

Gackt says, Sayonara Fuurin Kazan

Fuurin Kazan's filming has finally come to an end.

I've only had time to translate 9 episodes, so I have 40 to go... but to hear that the 49 episodes are done and over is still sad.

**Barely a spoiler... but I'll put spoiler here anyway.**

Since I already know how it ends having read the books, I'm getting tissues ready for the last episode. **End spoiler**

anyone who knows ancient world history already knows whats going to happen anyway. So its not much of a spoiler... but just in case. You know. I don't want to give it away. So I won't say WHY I'm getting ready to cry buckets.

Anyway. This is such a good show with such a great cast. Its truely an adaptation of the book that does the book justice. Kudos to the cast!!

I'm looking forward to the DVD box set release. I'm just hoping they are kind enough to release a version with English subtitles. So many Jdoramas neglect to do that when they are released to DVD. I hope NHK will not be one of those to neglect the English speaking fans of Japanese Dramas.

Go to this site to see a video of the actors 'thank-you's'. Gackt and Ichikawa Kamejiro also give Uchino Masaaki 2 huge boquets of flowers.

Congratulations to the cast!

Uchino Masaaki as Yamamoto Kansuke
Ichikawa Kamejiro as Takeda Shingen
Chiba Shinichi as Shingen's Vassal, Itagaki Nobukata

Gackt as Uesugi Kenshin

For a full cast list... please visit drama wiki.

Ja, mata!

Gackt gets 60 year old women's panties in a bunch

(That title got your attention, ne?)

well..

No news is good news I suppose.

Most Gackt news refers to things I’ve already talked about.

Gackt voicing the role of the main bad guy in the Japanese version of Aurther and the invisibles

Gackt wrapping up the filming of Fuurin Kazan

and a little talk about Gackt’s Community Site

The only NEW, news (If you can call it that) comes from This article that basically says Middle-aged and Elderly women also find Gackt hot.

A little behind the time... but better late than never, ne?

he seems to have developed a following of women aged 40 to 60 and some a bit older than that thanks to his work in Fuurin Kazan.

Otherwise, no new news. I hope that means he’s working his butt off. ^_^ what butt he has. lol.

That’s it for now

ja mata!

Gackt and Site News

Well, the radio show idea was a good one for a while, but now that I’m actually running a radio station...





I just don’t think I could stand recording a radio show AND a Gackt show.

Its A LOT of work. (took me 2 days to get my radio station up and running.)

So I’m going back to the old format.

If you still want to listen to the old news on the radio show... Click HERE

Who knows. Once I’m better at the radio gig, maybe I’ll come back to this format again.


-------------------------------


Mercifully, Gackt news has been a bit quiet.


1. There’s Gackt’s Community Site...

2. Also in the article linked above is news that Gackt is releasing his entire discography on iTunes (Making him the first Asian artist to do so.)

3. Gackt finished filming Fuurin Kazan. He celebrated with cast, and his S.K.I.N. bandmates. *Waaa* Its sad when a show ends. Especailly a good one like this! Thankfully I’m only up to Episode 9 in subtitles... so I have a long way to go.

4. There’s talk about Aurther et Minnimoys (Aurther and the invisibles) where he plays the main baddy, but nothing we really haven’t heard before.



So that’s the quick low down on Gackt news for today. not much going on... but like I said, thankfully that’s good. I’ve fallen so behind since starting the radio station. Now I have nothing more to do there till I get an audience. Lol

New Internet Japanese Otaku Radio show

Visit my new Internet radio station!

Otaku U.S.A. Radio is for the Japanese and non-Japanese Otaku alike who like anime, manga, Jrock, Jpop, Japanese Movies/Television.

Stop by and listen to the first (pre-recorded) broadcast!

Visit the official website

Gackt's Festival Videos

For those of you who remember... Gackt appeared in the annual Uesugi Kenshin Festival.

He was first seen laying flowers on the Grave of Uesugi Kenshin (Nagao Kagetora) donning all black from hair to shoes.

then Gackt then put on the costume of his Fuurin Kazan Character (Which just happens to be Uesugi Kenshin)... for the "annual taking of the feild".

He Rode what appeared to be an albino horse (From pictures it appears the horse has red eyes and no pigmentation, which is what would make it Albino.)

Thanks to some avid Gackt fans, and youtubers, we have some videos to share.

Double click on the videos to see the full size.

Gackt appears at the Kenshin Festival

Gackt made his appearance at the annual Uesugi Kenshin Festival Yesterday (for Japan that would be 8-24-07/8-23-07 for us in America).

He is seen here laying flowers on Kenshin (originally Nagao Kagetora) ’s grave at the garden temple in Joestsu city, Japan.

He donned all black, (Shirt, jacket, pants, shoes and sunglasses) as he visited the grave.

he also participated in the "taking of the feild" an annual tradition for the Uesugi Kenshin festival.

Gackt protrays Kenshin in the NHK production of "Fuurin Kazan" based on the novel, Samurai Banners of Furin Kazan by Yasushi Inoue.

(thanks to Niigata Nippon for the above photo.)

no news is good news

Hey all.

well... there's been no real Gackt news as of late. Hopefully that's because he's locked himself away somewhere and is working ultra hard at a new album, tv show or S.K.I.N. to ready himself for a S.K.I.N. American Tour. lol.

The only really news on Gackt has to do with Television appearances.

he's appeared on a few shows recently, one being Waratte Iitomo. I don't know much about that show, so I searched for info and found this on another great blog... Gakuhai.

This show seems to be the type of show where a guest comes on to talk, usually flowers from other stars are sent to them... (For Gackt... Hyde sent him flowers, I think congratulating him for being on the show).

Then when they're done with their appearance, they nominate another star to appear on the show next.

It seems, according to Gakuhai, Gackt nominated TMRevolution to be next.



the Next thing is about Fuurin Kazan. I really love this show. For those who haven't read my [ 風林火山 (gackt in Fuurin Kazan) ] blog on my myspace account ,

I've been actively promoting buying this box set when it comes out on DVD. Gackt doesn't appear in the first half of the show, its mostly backstory to our main character, Yamamoto Kansuke. I thought I'd be bored until Gackt appeared, but in actuallity, even sans Gackt, it was an awesome adaptation of a very good book. (Samurai Banners of Furin Kazan).

All of the actors do a great job, and its a very emotionally tugging story that has comedy, tear jerking moments, LOTS of action- something for everyone.

Anyway. They're pretty much done filming the series. Just a few wrap up scenes and it should be over soon.

They're on episode 36 in Japan, maybe 37 by now... and the series is only 49 episodes long.

due to my vactation, doctors appointments still stemming from a serious car accident I was in back in November, and such... I've fallen behind and am only 26 episodes into the raw, and I've only been able to translate 9 episodes to English. (I can't wait for the box set. Translating is hard work!)

But like I said, the series is great, and it would be well worth the money for when the box set comes out!! So look for it.

Here are two Gackt related Youtube vids... promos for episodes 35 and 36 of Fuurin Kazan


HERE and HERE

---

if I can find a video for the Waratte Iitomo episode, I'll post it.


Sore Dewa for now!


<3>

Unofficial Gackt Fanpage Contest!

Super Hero Gackt Contest has been cancelled

Sry to those who have sent in entries...

there just weren't enough entries to validate a contest with prizes I had to buy out of my own pocket.

if there had been more entries it would have been different, but if I have to pay for prizes, I'd prefer to have a better contest turn out.

Again, Sorry to those who did send in entries to participate.

I will try a contest again in the future so keep an eye out.

Gackt once again on Fool's Mate

Gackt once again will adorn the cover of the popular Japanese Magazine, Fool's Mate.

According to the translation, this is a special deluxe edition dedicated to Gackt, Gackt's single Returner~yami no shyuen~ and to his work with the "superband" S.K.I.N.

When talking about S.K.I.N. they called it a "rumored superband" so just how "new" the information will be, I can not guarantee anything... but they do promise pics.

For more information you can visit the Fool's Mate page dedicated to this edition. If you're looking to purchase a copy, you can wait for someone to post it to Ebay, or you can buy it HERE for $16 US.

Gackt will also be appearing on the cover of the NHK magazine. Inside are more pictures of Gackt and the cast of Fuurin Kazan.

Gackt on Cover of Josei Jishin

Gackt appears on the cover of Josei Jishin (A Japanese woman's magazine).

The article appears to be about Gackt and longtime friend, Yoshiki.

Ｇａｃｋｔキレた「ＹＯＳＨＩＫＩの悪癖」に乱闘寸前毎朝３時間トレーニングウエート９kgＵＰボディ作り

the bad habit of YOSHIKI" every morning 3 hour training weight 9 kg UP body making before the scuffle suns/size.

According to the Josei Jishin preview on their website : * Gackt: it is in the bad habit of YOSHIKI before the scuffle.

So... it appears to those on the outside who haven't had the chance to read the article, that YOSHIKI and Gackt possibly had a fight or at least, argument before the June Anime Expo concert in California.

According to the S.K.I.N. myspace fanpage ,

[quote] Even though the concert was a victory, back stage, the musicians immediately nit-picked and fussed over the tiny mistakes that went unnoticed by the fans. [end quote]

-(Webmaster of S.K.I.N. fanpage)

So perhaps there's some validity to the "Argument/scuffle" rumor. I guess it would depend on if they were fussing backstage about their mistakes as a whole, their own personal mistakes... OR if they were nitpicking eachother's mistakes.

It would stand to reason... 4 very big names in 1 band... eventually there'd be a fight for who the Alpha Male will be in a band of superstars.

However- according to blog runner: Gakuhai... Josei Jishin is not known for its irrefutable accuracy. So you'll have to find a way to buy the magazine... and come to your own conclusion.

I'll post more details as they follows.

Thanks to:

Gakuhai
Josei Jishin
S.K.I.N. fanpage

Japan Earthquake, 7-16-07

This is unrelated to Gackt news- but as a fan of Japan, the culture, the history and the people, I follow Japanese news very closely, and I'm saddened to report that another earthquake has struck Japan, killing (as of 1:03 pm central time here in the states on the 16th of July 2007) 7, and injuring hundreds more.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those lost or injured, and to those who suffered the loss of their homes or places of work due to the quake.

Today, Japan was hit by 2 quakes. The first happened in Niigata prefecture, destroying many houses and bridges and injuring at least 800 people. The second quake, registered at 6.8 magnitude (being called a quake, not an aftershock), killed at least 7 people and injured many more.

The 7 confirmed deaths were four women and three men all between 70 and 80 years old.

The effects of the earthquake had buildings shaking on their foundations as far as Tokyo. Over 2,000 people were evacuated from Kashiwazaki. The second quake caused the closing of transit from Tokyo to North / Northwestern Japan... and the closing of a top nuclear plant.

The plant (the world's largest plant in terms of power output capacity) was said to have leaked 315 gallons of water... the water contained a tiny amount of radioactive material and is believed to have flushed into the Sea of Japan.

There was also an electrical fire that took a few hours to contain.

This Quake follows a Quake that occured Late March, Early April of this year- which resulted in 1 death and hundreds of injured.

The last major quake to hit the capital, Tokyo, killed about 142,000 people in 1923, and experts say the capital has a 90% chance of suffering a major quake in the next 50 years.

In October 2004, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake hit Niigata, killing 40 people and damaging more than 6,000 homes. It was the deadliest to hit Japan since 1995, when a magnitude-7.2 quake killed 6,433 people in the western city of Kobe.

Japan is the world's most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occuring at least once every 5 mintues according to news sources.

Again... my heart goes out to the people of Japan, and their families and friends of those who suffered from this earthquake.

-Ara-

Sources
Freep.com
Guardian unlimited
Canada City News
CBC News

Shojo Beat Gackt Interview

Gackt is featured in the latest issue of Shojo Beat - an anime/Japanese magazine that's popular here in America.

You can pick it up almost anywhere they sell anime/manga stuff. Amazon.com, Suncoast videos, Hot Topic, Barnes and Nobles Book Sellers, your local comic book/manga store, or on the official Shojo beat site.

The article includes an English Gackt interview as well as a few pictures from the Asian Drug Party Tour.

You can read the interview HERE at the Shojo Beat official site. Its actually a very interesting little tidbit. Its definately worth having if you're a Gackt fan. This is the magazine to have as a collectable.

If you miss the magazine while its on sale on the shelves... you can probably buy it on back order. This is Volume 3, issue 8.

S.K.I.N. Fanpage Interview

I had a chance to ask a few questions about the recent S.K.I.N. Concert from someone who was there. The answers were as follows.

Q. How many people were in attendance? Was it a decent crowd?

A. it's hard to estimate how many people were there, but it was a very good sized crowd, and everyone showed lots of enthusiasm, excitement, and pure joy during the show.

Q. Were the 4 songs performed in English, Japanese, or a Mix of both English and Japanese?

A. The 4 songs performed were a mix of English and Japanese.

Q. did they mention any other songs being in the works, or are they currently seperating to work on their seperate projects?

A. YOSHIKI has stated that they have already recorded some 7 or 8 songs. Although some members are focusing on their own solo careers as well as S.K.I.N. For example Miyavi's upcoming summer tour, as well as YOSHIKI working on an X-Japan 'reunion'.

Q. Just how good is Gackt's English? Is he as fluent as he once bragged?

A. I personally don't know much of Gackt's previous English, but he was fairly fluent, the only times his English could not be understood was when it was drowned out by screaming fans.

Q. Did they mention an ETA for an album release, or for that tour they talked about?

A. There is not yet any confirmation of dates, but there is a US tour confirmed, as well as YOSHIKI stating that he wouldn't mind touring Europe. It can be assumed (if S.K.I.N. takes priority over X-Japan) that a tour would begin around September or October, after Miyavi's upcoming solo tour.

Q. If there was mention of a tour, did they mention if it would be limited to only major places like in California or New York, if it would be mainly anime conventions, or if it would be Nationwide hitting places like Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit and so on?

A. While nothing has been confirmed, Gackt has mentioned that they wish to top world charts, and be the first Asian group to achieve that sort of fame. And as such, it can be assumed that they would do a tour all over America. But as said, this is all speculation at this point.

Q. Anything else you feel Fans like me, who were unable to attend the concert at Anime Expo should know about the S.K.I.N. concert?

A. S.K.I.N. has thus far proven to be an absolutely amazing band, with songs varying from 'head-bang' type rock, to instrumentals with classical instruments. S.K.I.N. represents some of Japan's most talented artists. Now that they have officially begun, they need fan support now as much as ever. Let's show the world that Japan's artists can rock just as hard as anyone else. ^_^

---------------------

Special thanks to the Myspace S.K.I.N. Fanpage Moderator for the interview

Uesugi Kenshin Reawakened

On August 25th (2007), Japan will hold its annual Uesugi Kenshin festival, which will take place at Kasugayama park in Joetsu.

this is the Kenshin Festival's 82nd year (the first festival being held in 1926.)

The main rumor is that Gackt will be participating in the festival - especially during the "taking of the field" part of the ceremony - which sounds like it is a reinactment of some type. Its hard to translate that properly.

If its a reinactment, it will most likely be Gackt in the role of Kenshin, which he currently plays on NHK's Fuurin Kazan.

**Fuurin Kazan Spoilers** (for those who don't know the history.)

Uesugi Kenshin was a warlord in the feudal period of Japan - The Sengoku period to be exact. He is most famous for the battles with fellow Daimyo, Takeda Shingen. He and Shingen fought 5x at Kawanakajima, but both being cautious- the "battles" never amounted to more then Skirmishes. It was in the 4th battle, that the famous Yamamoto Kansuke (of whom Fuurin Kazan is mostly about) lost his life.

Takeda and Kenshin thought highly of eachother, and respected one another greatly. When Shingen died a few years before Kenshin... Kenshin mourned the loss of his greatest rival, weeping openly, and swearing to never attack Takeda land. He eventually became a Takeda Ally, not long before his own death.


for more information on this festival, please visit the links below

Kenshin Festival
Kenshin Festival 2
Pronweb Watch article


for more information on Uesugi Kenshin, for whom this festival is held... please visit these links

My Brief Kenshin report (Rumors and Facts)
Uesugi Kenshin (Nagao Kagetora) Wikipedia


Purchase Samurai Banners of Furin Kazan, a great book

HERE


Purchase the original 1969 movie

HERE

American/Canadian Gackt DVD release!

According to VIZ pictures official site...

they're set to release an American copy of Gackt's greatest Filmography RED, 1999-2006.

This will include English subtitles for the first time!

On the DVD will be:

Another world
Oasis
Secret Garden
Redemption
Mizerable
Black Stone
Seki-Ray
Vanilla
Dreams you Pursued
Mirror
Never Forget you
and Metamorphoze

It will be out on October 9th, and will retail for $19.98 US / $29.99 Canada.
The DVD will be a region 1 release... Canada/US only.

Thanks to N.A. Dears for the heads up on this DVD!

The Amazing Invisible Gackt

Gackt will be a cartoon! Just, sadly not of the Gundam kind. (I've really been pushing for that poor guy to get his own Gundam anime... but sadly, it hasn't happened as of yet.)

but he can do the next best thing with Arthur et les minimoys (English title: Arthur and the Invisibles).

Gackt will be voicing the Character of the evil Wizard Malthazar (who has been likened to a slightly less scary version of Harry Potter's Lord Voldemort.)

the voice was portrayed in the English version by another famous rocker- David Bowie.

Before you run out to buy the "Arthur and the invisibles" movie... keep in mind that the Japanese version is not on the currently released dvd. It will be released as a feature film in Japan in September of this year, so you'll have to wait to get that version on DVD when it is released later on either at the end of this year, beginning of next year.

Happy Birthday to Gackt

Gackt Camui turns 467 years old on this day!

Or 34.

Depends on how old he wants to be this year.

Happy birthday to our hero Gackt!

Recently, I gathered a few fan letters that mutual fans I know wrote for Gackt, and placed them on a tidy little webpage I decided to call a virtual card. Then I forwarded those birthday wellwishes to Gackt via his official website (Which is actually now simply Gackt.com)


Speaking of his official site - besides the shorter and easier to remember URL, there is also a new hot look for fans to enjoy!

I'm still waiting for them to Jazz up the sites for the other languages (they have Korean, English, and Chinese besides the original Japanese)... but... at this point, I'm just happy they even added an English version of the site at all.

That means, perhaps, we're one step closer to an international Dears fanclub?

S.K.I.N. News

According to a recent Japanese article, (which can still be read here), Gackt's new project with Yoshiki, Sugizo, and Miyavi... S.K.I.N. performed to a very happy crowed at California's Anime Expo.

S.K.I.N. (created by former X-Japan member Yoshiki), performed 4 original songs at that night's events to a screaming crowd. Much to the crowd's surprise and delight, lead singer Gackt himself M.C.'ed the event, IN ENGLISH! Yoshiki was on Drums, (And the piano for one song with Gackt), Miyavi and Sugizo headed up the guitars.

Also, (while this isn't mentioned in the article) Gackt's own Ju-Ken from GacktJob, helped the band out on bass.

When it comes to the "take over the world" tour Yoshiki talked about in many interviews... it could be a while before we see it.

Gackt is working on several projects, Miyavi is about to embark on his solo tour, and there is a much anticipated reunion of Xjapan's existing members for a reunion.

however, it is rumored that at the end of the concert Gackt said to the crowd "We'll definately be back" or something to that extent.

I suppose Time will tell.

Thanks to phamousfotos.com for the S.K.I.N. pics