Artist GACKT (51) appeared at the "GACKT Kirai Project" launch event held in Tokyo on the 5th. He showed off his impressive "flexibility" that belies his age, surprising Golden Bomber member Kiryuuin Sho (40), who was also in attendance.

The project brings together GACKT's own experiences of body transformation and wellness knowledge, as well as knowledge gained through first-class items from around the world. The items produced by GACKT are for the pursuit of "health" and "beauty," and are meant to accelerate the beauty of all mankind.

At the beginning of the event, GACKT said with a laugh, "I wanted to release this calm and quietly, so that it would be available to the world before you know it, but I didn't think it would become a big press conference, so I'm a little hesitant." He continued, "If more people understood how important flexibility is and started from there, I think their daily lives would become easier. Is a rich life simply about being healthy and not getting sick? I think it's important to have a body that allows you to always do what you want to do. In order to achieve that, here's what you need to do every day."

Afterwards, he called out Kiryuin as "the stiffest junior in the music industry" and used his own products to train his flexibility. He started by saying, "I'm 51 now. If I'm not flexible, my figure will deteriorate..." and in an instant he bent forward, leaving Kiryuin astonished at his flexibility.

In response to the question, "How do you become a charismatic person?" GACKT emphasized, "I don't think of myself as a charismatic person. However, when it comes to appearance, athletic ability, and not getting injured compared to people my age, I think I can do that more than other people. If you ask me why that is, it's the steady accumulation of the things I have to do every day. What you do in your 20s will show up in your 30s, and what you do in your 30s will show up in your 40s."

When asked "What made you want to become a cool guy?" he answered, "I don't really remember, but I've been in bands since I was 20, and went solo at 26. At the time, I was surrounded by a lot of bands, and I wondered what I should be like to survive. How can I deliver that to the fans who support me? I just put that into practice, and do what I have to do every day." When asked, "When did you become convinced that you had become a cool guy?" he replied, "It's not that easy. I've always wanted to be like that, and I've come this far, so I hope I can think of it that way when I die." He casually dropped the golden words.

Article Source: oricon.co.jp
Photo credit: fnn.jp thetv.jp realsound.jp tokyo-sports.co.jp hochi.news sponichi.co.jp encount.press daily.co.jp natalie.mu

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

Artist GACKT appeared at the first pitch ceremony for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters vs. Orix Buffaloes match held at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO on August 1st. He showed off his impressive pitching form.

GACKT appeared as a special guest at "OCEAN DAY". When the first pitch was announced, he commented, "This time, we have a connection with Ocean Co., Ltd., and I am very happy that the First Pitch Ceremony will be held at a wonderful baseball stadium called ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO. I hope everyone will come to the stadium and enjoy the game as well as my pitch", and amid rising expectations, he appeared in an all-black outfit.

GACKT took to the mound and once in his set position, he stopped midway and performed a stunt of throwing the ball towards the batter. This caused Matsumoto Tsuyoshi, who played the batter, to chuckle wryly, and the audience applauded.

After starting over, he took his set position again and threw the ball with a powerful southpaw form, and although it went far to the outside corner, it went straight to the catcher without a bounce. GACKT showed his white teeth and left the mound with a smile.

After his first pitch, GACKT updated his own X, saying, "First pitch over. I imagined two outs, runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn't a strike. It seems my practice still hadn't caught up," but reflected that he had fulfilled his role, saying, "However, I think I was able to accomplish my most important mission, which was to liven up the venue. It's a relief that everyone enjoyed themselves."

On the other hand, he also seemed to be regretful that the pitch was a ball, writing, "Next time, I'll practice hard and give me revenge. This time, I'd like to get my revenge with the bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, runners on bases loaded, and a count of 2-3," and concluding, "Sigh, I've added more work to my plate..."

A video of GACKT pitching can be seen on X's official Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters account.

Article Source: oricon.co.jp
Photo credit: nikkansports.com daily.co.jp hochi.news

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

GACKT (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Oda Nobunaga)

"Chopin"
[GACKT] Chopin is the musician I admire the most. When I started learning piano as a child, Chopin's songs were what I was most into. I didn't discover rock until my late teens, because I had always been doing classical music up until then. Chopin is the foundation of my music, and has had the greatest influence on me. His way of life is something that really strikes me.

★Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was a Polish composer and pianist known as the "poet of the piano." His French father played the violin and his Polish mother loved vocal music, and he grew up in an environment surrounded by music. He started playing the piano at the age of four, showed an interest in composing at the age of six, and began performing at the age of seven. He was truly a talented man worthy of being called a "child prodigy." However, he was physically weak, suffered from tuberculosis at a young age, and died at the age of 39. The many works that Chopin left behind continue to be loved throughout the ages, and his contribution to piano music is immeasurable.

Article Source: oricon.co.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

Musician GACKT (51) appeared at the "FULLCAST New CM Announcement ~ GACKT-san Part-time Job Inauguration Ceremony" press conference held in Tokyo on the 17th. In relation to the new CM, when asked what part-time job he would like to try, GACKT replied, "Manager."

GACKT said, "When I look at the manager who looks after me, it seems really tough, so I'd like to be a manager too", and when asked who he would like to manage, he smiled and said, "Akko-san, Hamada-san, etc....I think it would be quite tough, but I'd like to try it and see what kind of experience I'll have in a day."

When asked about his job as a manager, he said, "I do what I can on the spot. I'm strict too, so I say things clearly," but laughed, saying, "If I make them angry, it affects their work." He also said he would like to experience being in the opposite position, saying, "I want to experience what it's like to send someone off to work in a good mood."

FANTASTICS' Yusei Yagi (27) also appeared at the event. The two will appear in new commercials, "If You Want to Earn Money" and "Repeat Part-Time Jobs," which will begin airing tomorrow, the 18th.

Article Source: oricon.co.jp
Photo credit: mdpr.jp encount.press nikkansports.com oricon.co.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA

Musician and actor GACKT (51) and Mansai Nomura (58) appeared on stage to greet viewers at the completion ceremony for the film If Ieyasu Tokugawa Were Prime Minister (released July 26th) held in Tokyo on the 16th.

The event was attended by Minami Hamabe (23), Eiji Akaso (30), Masahiro Takashima (58), Noriko Eguchi (44), Tetsuhiro Ikeda (53), Shinya Kote (50), Tan Nagai (30), Arisa Mizuki (47), Naoto Takenaka (68), and director Hideki Takeuchi (57). The cast of "Strongest Hero Cabinet" dressed in their costumes, gathered on the large red carpeted staircase that was named after a scene from the movie, and talked about episodes from the filming.

When asked what was fun during filming, he began by saying, "There's a climax scene where I face off with Mansai, who is playing Tokugawa Ieyasu, and convey my feelings to him in a serious atmosphere." He continued, "Mansai looked me in the eye and called me by my name..."Mitsunari-dono," which sent the audience into a frenzy of laughter.

He continued, "So this is the way he is," expressing his resentment, and recalled, "I didn't know how to respond after what he said, and I realized the scary side of the entertainment world. This is a moment I'll remember."

When asked about the intention behind the ad-lib, Mansai explained, "I was also stunned and lost my composure. I meant to say Nobunaga, but with deep emotion I said Mitsunari. I messed it up at the climax," he said with a wry smile.

This is the film adaptation of a business novel (author: Akihito Mabe/Sunmark Publishing) in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is resurrected by the latest AI technology, becomes prime minister and rebuilds Japan. Set in Japan in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a cluster outbreak occurred at the Prime Minister's official residence and the Prime Minister suddenly died, the government implements an unprecedented plan to "resurrect great historical figures using AI and create the strongest cabinet."

Hamabe will play the main character, Nishimura Risa, a rookie reporter in the TV station's political department who is aiming to get a scoop on the strongest cabinet, Akaso will play Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakamoto Ryoma, GACKT will play Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Oda Nobunaga, Takashima will play Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tokugawa Yoshimune, Eguchi will play Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Hojo Masako, Ikeda will play Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, Kote will play Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Nagai will play Minister of Justice Prince Shotoku, Mizuki will play Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Murasaki Shikibu, Takenaka will play Minister of Finance Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Mansai will play Prime Minister Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Article Source: oricon.co.jp
Photo credit: natalie.mu cinematoday.jp moviewalker.jp nikkansports.com encount.press astage-ent.com joho.press.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA