Niigata in northern Japan once comprised the prefecture of Echigo, which was ruled over by the warlord Uesugi Keshin about 500 years ago during the Sengoku or Warring States Era. Uesugi Kenshin is greatly revered in Japan to this day.
GACKT took an interest in Niigata in 2006, because of his participation in the annual NHK taiga drama (which is broadcast over an entire year, about 50 episodes)
Fuurin Kazan in which he portrayed Uesugi Kenshin. In 2006 Niigata also suffered from devastating earthquakes. GACKT took part in two Kenshin Festivals in 2007 and 2008, which brought in much needed revenue to the area, bringing in four times the crowds of any previous festival, it was in GACKT's mind to make this one of Japan's nationally known festivals.
In both festivals GACKT dressed the part, taking part in a parade, wearing armor from the
Fuurin Kazan drama and riding a white horse, giving a speech along the route and attended by soldiers in period armor (in 2008 he had almost 1,000 attendants) GACKT also took part in both festivals a second day in the battle re-enactment in the evening in a stadium.
GACKT created a charity in called Save Our Dears in which crystal keychains and smoky quartz bracelets with the symbols for 'Dragon' or 'Bi' for Bishamonten were sold. (Uesugi Kenshin is referred to as the 'Dragon of Echigo' and he revered the deity Bishamonten, using these symbols in his battle standards.)
Sales of the items by Gackt's fanclub DEARS raised two million yen, which were presented to the city of Joetsu Niigata in 2008.
GACKT has continued his connection with Niigata into 2010, when he performed in the first Niigata Asian Pop Festival as the headline act, he has agreed to come back to this year's Kenshin Festival on the second night, making time in a busy schedule of tours and a stage production. article by Gackt Army.
(for previous GA reports on the festivals check the kenshin festival tag)