GACKT OFFICIAL YOUTUBE channel “Gakuchan” update. Transcript below

G&R’s Plagiarism

Note:
There are now numerous reports in the media regarding G&R’s case.
I have recorded a video so I can directly share my thoughts about this with everyone.
It’s a little long, but I do hope that you will watch it to the end.

This is GACKT.

Firstly, to begin, I’d like to say that I am beyond regretful to have to share this news to all my fans who have supported G&R.
What has happened this time has greatly infuriated me and I would like to speak about the series of events which led to and caused this.

I decided to broadcast this on YouTube this time because I didn’t want to end this with an official statement, but instead, I wanted to let everyone know how I feel about this with my own words. And so I’ve chosen this platform.

To start, as to how G&R was created… When I was having dinner with Roland myself two years ago, we casually spoke about doing something together and from there, we began talking about it more and more. We felt that it was possible for us to do something together, and that was when (G&R) was formed.

When things started taking shape, Dazzy’s CEO who heard about this said, “I would love it if you’d let us handle this.” And so, he offered us (the proposal).

At the time, the CEO of Dazzy would always be running on site. From checking the designs to the final product, he would have had a hand in everything, taking care of it all with passion. With that dynamism and passion of his, I decided to let him take care of this project. And this is the beginning to Project G&R.

Taking this as a trial with a young company like Dazzy, I started this project without creating a contract with G&R.

This project, which I originally wanted to kick off much earlier, has been delayed time and again, in part due to COVID-19 too. And finally, it began a few days ago. The press conference which was held, I believe, is something that everyone knows of now.

But, however, in the past 2 years, Dazzy has… in the course of its rapid growth? Or, perhaps, there are unexpected reasons or causes, but I’ve heard that the CEO himself has been appearing less and less, leaving decisions to the employees and the young designers to make, while dishing out warnings about profitability and margins too.

At the press conference too, the arrangements were less than stellar and in the midst of it all, during the before and after too, to him, I said, “It’s when things are going well that you can’t let yourself get carried away. Put your back in it and do your work properly. If you don’t do that, you’ll really lose your footing.” Well, I spoke to him a number of times with rather harsh words.

But, well, among that, I also said, “Go back to basics. Start from scratch once more with your own two hands and do it all over.” And right after I’ve said these things to him, this problem has surfaced.

I heard that under the intense pressure to set up Roland’s and my brand, he hired one designer who copied designs from another company. And we checked the designs which that designer submitted, we used them, and made them available for sale.

Regarding the solution to this problem, I do not believe that this will be solved by refunding of all purchases, stopping of sales, or firing of that designer. Personally, I believe that as the face of this project, the responsibility does fall onto me as well.

To all the fans who have been disappointed by this incident, I sincerely apologise with all my heart.

This project by Roland and I, which has been in the works since two years ago had finally begun, but, I would like to say that… Despite that Ryou also joined us in this, I am truly regretful that such a thing has happened.

However, to cut off the people or companies who have failed and run away from disaster is an extremely simple thing to do, but I do not believe that it is a solution to the root of the problem.

Right now, in our present society, there is a climate where failing once doesn’t mean that it’s completely “game over” anymore. And because there is this climate, going forward, I will not inhibit the drive of those who wish to take on the challenge of something new.

What’s more important is, I wish to give them the chance to recover from this failure, show their sincerity and good faith to all of those who have been implicated by Dazzy, and get back on their feet with the company.

I’ve lost a lot of trust in Dazzy this time. This has implicated Roland, Mon Ryou, I, the many other associates. Most of all, as to how Dazzy will face everyone who has been so looking forward to this project, everyone who has been supporting this project with sincerity, I will personally watch over this myself, to the very end. It will take time, but I feel that it is also my duty as the senior to support the younger generation without abandoning them.

Lastly, as the face of this project, I, GACKT would like to once again extend my apologies to everyone who has been looking forward to this, and everyone who has been supporting the G&R Project. I am truly sorry that things have ended up like this.

This has been a sudden announcement. Thank you for watching until the end. Once again, I promise that I, too will work hard so that bring a positive announcement next time.

That’s all. GACKT, signing off.

Transcript: Yoshi @ GACKT ITALIA Team

Transcript © GACKT ITALIA