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!