Some New Gackt Pics

I suppose everyone thought I abandoned them, ne?

no no. Far from the truth. The actuality is, there really isn't that much Gackt news.

The big news is that he is coming out with his new album.

otherwise its same old same old.

Gackt appears all over the Fuurin Kazan news blogs, his new Japanese community site talks about what Gackt eats, breathes, drinks and poops... but nothing earth shattering.

There is some talk about him doing a Chinese concert, that will be televised in China, but won't appear in Japan until Christmas Eve. Lets hope some nice Youtuber gets up there for us before then. ^_^

otherwise, that's about it.

So I didn't go anywhere... I just took a hiatus while waiting for some interesting Gackt news.

However, to tide you over, here are some Gackt pics.

one is from Fuurin Kazan where he plays Uesugi Kenshin, the other I like to call "Gackt's recent hair don't." Poor Gackt. His Stylist must have been running behind or something. Lol.

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.

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 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!

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>

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.

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