GACKT Official blog update. Translation below:

I got in touch with William Kassouf,
a professional poker player in London.
We decided to have tea together
until it was my flight’s departure time.

I finished packing,
and went out until it was time to meet him.
I thought of buying a jacket from somewhere,
so, in any case, I headed out into the streets.

Even so,
I’ve persistently said this many times but
London really is a beautiful city.

How is it so well-ordered?
I let out a sigh.

If I was to recommend
one of Europe’s countries based on my preferences,
I would choose Spain, in terms of how nice their people are.

In terms of cities, I would pick the UK.
In terms of atmosphere, I would choose Portugal.

In terms of bread and wine, I’d pick France.
In terms of beautiful women, I’d pick Sweden.

If you want to feel some kind of forlorness, then it’ll be Lithuania.
If you want to get drunk in an air of decadence, then it’ll be Latvia.
If you want to go berserk, then it’s Ukraine.

Well, I guess it’s something like this.

The painted commercials on taxis
that I often see all around the world
represents that country’s sense of aesthetic well.

The advertisements on America’s taxis are, anyway, flashy.
You can’t deny that it will stand out in a crowd.

Japan’s commercials emphasise on cost.
Instead of appearance, all they think about is how low-cost it can be.
London’s taxi commercials are out of the league.

In other words, in spite of the advertisements,
they don’t spoil the city scape,
and it might be said that being careful about this is better.
I can only say that it’s wonderful.

The country’s character and elegance are reflected
in places like these.

I suppose even the shape
of taxis and busses are regulated.

I guess each of these things mentioned
are all largely connected together
in London’s tourism.

It’s wonderful.

Even so, it’s cold.
If the weather isn’t this bad and there is no fog,
then London could be the best city though.
While walking and thinking about that.
I saw an unbalanced sight in this cold.

『They’re different after all…』

I muttered unintentionally.
It’s completely unimaginable for me.
Wearing a T-shirt in this cold…

I went to Dolce & Gabbana,
and bought a new winter jacket.
Then I walked around in London.

I headed towards where I would be meeting William.
It’s the first time in awhile that I’m meeting him,
and, anyway, he talked a lot.
I was overwhelmed by his exceptionally rapid-fire talk.

After having a lot of tea,
we headed to his home base, Victoria Casino.

As this place is his sponsor,
he showed all around the place.
It’s small but
the atmosphere is pretty nice.

We decided to play together
until it was time for me to head to the airport.

He introduced me to the other professional players who were at the table too.
Even so, he’s funny.
While we were playing together,
another player sat down next to him.
That was probably a guest who’s here for the first time.

 

In the middle of the game,
he started staring at William a number of times.
I guess he really couldn’t hold it in.

『I can’t possibly think with
you being this noisy in my ear, can I?
How about being quiet for a bit?』

Ahahahaha.
Wiliam’s reply to that rather
biting comment was funny too.

『I’m simply answering my friend’s questions.
I’m not speaking to you』

To that,
that guest attacked even more.

『At least shut up awhile
when I’m holding onto cards!』

William didn’t lose either.

『Isn’t this the best part about live poker?
Whether I’m taking or what I’m talking about
doesn’t influence your hand at all.
If you want to quietly play alone,
the play online』

Ahahaha.
He’s absolutely right.
Being able to have an exchange like this
is probably a conversational technique unique to foreigners.
If it was a Japanese, they’d probably become silent at the very first word.

Honestly,
Japanese are exceptionally bad
with such counterattacks or ideas
or clearly stating one’s arguments.

It’s not that they don’t have an opinion.
They don’t have the skills to put that to words.
Even since they were young,
they’ve never been trained to assert.

When you’re unable to be assertive in an international company,
you can’t do your work at all.

For Japan too, in another 20 years,
I’d think that the country will be overflowing with foreigners too.
If they can’t be assertive, then they’ll get increasingly beaten.
I think we’re getting thrust into an era where we have to change.

It was time, and I headed to the airport.
I said my goodbyes to William and arrived in the airport.
My departure procedures were then done.

It was a meaningful time spent although it was short.
Though I think there aren’t many people who visit London for just one day.
The world is vast.
But, it’s closer than you’d expect.

I’ve come to think like this recently.
I’ll visit London again.

Alright then…
KL’s delicious cuisine awaits.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Source: GACKT Blog

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA