Crea, April 2006

Translated by: gekka_no_neko (@LJ)

Please do not copy, take, redistribute, retranslate or repost this translation without my permission. Thank you~~

Gackt ~ Uniting Asia with his individualized aesthetics

The first objective is to make inroads into Asia
An ambition concealed by aesthetics

This past January, Gackt enthusiastically sang in front of 8,000 fans crammed into Seoul's Olympic Park.

"The Korean fans' response? They went insane[1] (laughs). I was moved by the happy, cheerful and sad emotions they showed us."

Gackt's aesthetics in terms of new songs, vocals and staging were passionately accepted even in Korea. The contents of the Korea performance were the same as those in the Japan tour, and enormous production costs were at stake. He has released Korean language versions of his CDs in the past, and now plans are being carried out for an Asia tour in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Gackt's movement into Asia is serious. What is the true intent behind this?

"I want to unite Asia with music. It's been my hope since I started making music."

The reason he has embraced these strong feelings can be found in the environment (surroundings) of Okinawa where Gackt spent his childhood.

"I had many friends around me who were Korean, Chinese and American. And I grew up seeing their low position in Japan. Also, I have pride in myself that I am Okinawan."

There is no connection with the recent Korean boom[2] in Japan.

"The number of people who are now interested in Korea, in actually visiting Korea and studying its language has grown thanks to the Korean boom. What could not be accomplished with politics was changed by the strength of culture. The atmosphere has become such that foreigners living in Japan can (openly) declare their roots."

The topic is politics, and the problems with the economy and its growth.

"Like Europe began using Euros as its common currency, it'd be good if Asia can use music as its common language. That's why, until that day, I intend to continue fighting to break down the walls regardless of what others may say. That's what rock (music) is all about, isn't it."

Notes:
[1] "hakkyou": become insane; get mad; go crazy; go psycho; lose one's senses.
[2] "Korean boom": The Korean boom in Japan was sparked by the drama "Winter Sonata", which aired in Japan in April-September of 2002. The lead actor, Bae Yong Joon, became very popular with Japanese women, and more Korean dramas and movies were brought over to Japan. A few tidbits: The Japan Travel Bureau announced that the number of Japanese who traveled to Korea in 2004 increased by 35.6% over 2003. The Dai-ichi Life Research Institute estimated that there was a 122.5 billion yen boost to the Japanese economy due to the Korean boom. The Seoul Plaza Hotel, which was featured in "Winter Sonata," sold 750 "Winter Sonata packages" to Japanese tourists from October 2003 through October 2004, bringing in revenues of 250 million won.

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