Hardest Working Bishounen

[karadin.livejournal.com]

Gackt has this year created

a special DVD documentary of himself in the drama Fuurin Kazan
shot a film for 3 months in Romania 'Bunraku'
created a single 'Jesus'
shot video for 'Jesus'
developing chain of upscale restaurants
become an avatar in the game 'Bounty Killer'
created new single 'Justified' for Bounty Killer
produced music score for the game Bounty Killer
designed new jewelry for DARTS line
promoting series of articles 'Gackt meets winners' in TVGuide Japan
promoted 'Luminius' beauty products with commerical
produced new Live CD-DVD box set Nine Nine
created and promotes an ecology website (Ener's Love Our Planet)
returned to perform in annual Kenshin celebration, parade and battle
recording new album
oversaw design and production of RandR2 tour
now rehearsing for new tour in Dec
oversaw development of Gackt.com website
oversaw development and design of new tour goods
releasing calendars for 2009
produced special DVD gift 'Platinum Box' for fans.
recorded his voice and loaned his image for the 'Gackpoid' Vocaloid synthesizer.

Please to be taking title of HARDEST WORKING BISHIE IN SHOW BIZ Gackt-san

and making your fans, the hardest working and MOST BROKE fans in the world.

(if you notice something missing, put it in comments)

JESUS

[karadin.livejournal.com]

Bounce has an article on the new single, referring to it as a hard-rocking, fast speed song!
YAY!
http://www.bounce.com/news/daily.php/16558

Gackt will also be featured in the December issue of Otona Fami magazine.

Prepare for the Invasion!
(thanks to Pixiezdust for updates)

Word and Image

[karadin.livejournal.com]

I write, erase, rewrite,
Erase again, and then
A poppy blooms.

Hokushi

A Samurai and his Sword

[karadin.livejournal.com]

From recent discussion on the com, sparking by Lt. Colonel Wongkk's recent Word and Image post with Gackt as Kenshin holding a long sword, I thought the com might like to check out a recent NOVA special: Secrets of The Samurai Sword.

Much of the media we see relating our General of the Army comes directly from the deep connection modern Japan keeps with it's historic past, not just Gackt's portrayal of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin in the drama Fuurin Kazan but with fantasy warrior figures, such as Lau Wong, Genesis Rhapsodos and Gide Bellacourt. Gackt's own creation, a vampire warrior depicted in Diabolos carries a sword. Even the gentle-seeming purple-tressed Kamui Gackupo carries a sword!

To the Japanese, the sword is more than a weapon, it is also a sublime work of art, to some, it houses the eternal spirit of the warrrior who carried it. The code of the Samurai, Bushido, to which Gackt ascribes, holds that it is important to keep the sword sheathed drawing it only in utmost need. Therefore, the ubiquitous nature of the sword in manga, film, games and anime is a symbol of tradition, family, loyalty, honor, discipline and even restraint, in the eyes of the Japanese.

This particular NOVA special (there is a transcription of the entire episode if you cannot view) give great insight into the sword and what it means in Japanese culture, and is, I think, a wonderful way in which to understand what Gackt feels and what he tries to express in his art. And I feel proud to see a katana as part of our official community logo.

link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/samurai/