Oricon Style, March 2006

Translated by: Sweiled

1. Please DO NOT take my translations and use them for whatever reason, without my permission.
2. Please DO NOT publish my translations elsewhere without my permission. Please kindly link back if you want, but DO NOT copy and paste them.


[number] = more explanation of the sentence below
xxx = more detailed explanations
[xxx] = what I felt a certain part of the sentence meant
(xxx) = other meanings of the word or literal translations or missing word/words not specifically mentioned. For e.g. The fans screamed when (Gackt and his band members) entered the stadium! Read it like you will a normal sentence.
=xxx= = real brackets used in the interview

The words Gackt presents

Feb 28 (Tue) Hyogo Prefectual Maiko High School “Graduation Ceremony Surprise Live”


Making good on your word

As expressed by the meaning of this phrase, following the Asia tour, Gackt worked to fulfill the promise he made to a male high school student.

During the graduation ceremony -what you can call the ending point of a student’s life- he visited the school out of the blue……

A complete coverage by OriSty (Oricon Style) on this surprise live that has become a day none will forget.

Not just the details of this live, but an interview about the new song (specially) prepared for this day will also be included.

A dream is not something to be dreamt, but something to be fulfilled.
I have high hopes for your future
Congratulations on your graduation

February 28. In the city of Kobe, Maiko Prefectual High School is holding its graduation ceremony in the sports hall. The opening speech started; the national anthem sung; the graduation certificate awarded… and so the ceremony progresses without much excitement. (lit. disinterestedly, plainly, indifferently) A scene you can find anywhere, yet one which is filled with deep emotions. And what could possibly break that atmosphere and bring in great excitement and joy!?

At that moment, he walked in very naturally. Normally, the students would leave the hall as soon as the ceremony is over, but the principal stopped them and said, “Someone has come today from a bright, faraway place to give all of you a word of encouragement.” [1] And with that, the doors on the left-hand side of the hall opened and Gackt walked in swiftly towards the stage, wearing sunglasses and a black long coat. “Eh?” “Kyaaa!” “How…?” -- the hall was filled with confused excitement. The ones bewildered weren’t just the graduating students or the other students, but fathers and brothers alike were leaning forward [to get a better view]. There was a huge uproar.

“I happen to be in the area, so I decided to drop in for a visit.”

That greeting by Gackt was met with a huge applause. And he continues, “2 years ago, I received a mail from one of the students here, and he told me all about this school,” so he explains his reason for coming here.

“I thought about it and wrote a song for all of you.”

That is to say, he made the song, “野に咲く花のように,” [2] just for that day’s graduation ceremony. His band members, You and Chachamaru, got ready on the stage. With their guitar accompaniment, he sang a song about setting off [on a journey]. The lyrics brought the image of school (to mind) and was full of heart-warming sentences like, “on this empty (school) ground.” After singing the song, this is what he said to the graduating students.

“As seniors who will be moving forward just slightly earlier (than the rest), I have this to say to you. A dream is not something to be dreamt about; a dream is something to be fulfilled. So make them come true. For that you need a strong determination. I have high hopes for your future. Congratulations on your graduation.”

Something that remained clearly in my mind was that Gackt had a different, much softer expression than he usually does.

[1] The principal said, “someone is here to give a yell”.
[2] “Like flowers blossoming in the wilderness”

=====================================================

Special interview directly after the live

I: I heard that one of the students who (listens) to your regular radio program wrote you a mail and that was what brought about this visit to the school =A male student consulted Gackt regarding the cut in the number of students attending the Environment and Disaster Mitigation course, which is in its third year of establishment=
G: At that time, it wasn’t like I promised that I would attend the graduation ceremony. I just encouraged him. [1] In the radio (program), I said that the main point isn’t the number of students getting cut, but (finding out) what’s important and spreading that. [2] After that we also exchanged mails privately. “We did this activity,” “I’m working hard today.” And even after the regular program has ended, he continued reporting (his activities) to me. It makes you happy, doesn’t it? And in one of them, he asked, “Gackt-san, won’t you come to the graduation ceremony?” I also said once on the radio, “Well then, I think I might go to the graduation ceremony?”
[1] “I only said, “Ganbare””
[2] 自分の中で広めている, which can be loosely translated to “expanding it within yourself.” I think what he meant is to find out what’s most important and to pursue your goal while keeping that in mind. And in that sense, spreading your own thoughts and beliefs to others through your actions.


I: You announced it. (laughs)
G: I said, “I’ll celebrate your graduation ceremony with you if you really put your mind to it and work hard towards that goal and show the result.” And he really worked hard. We kept mailing each other and (I said), “I’ll do it if you can persuade the principal or vice-principal and all related personnel.” But the school kept refusing him at first.


I: Well, they have never done something like this before……
G: “If it doesn’t work, that means it doesn’t work; it’s as simple as that. The rest depends on you now,” that’s what I told him. And about one month before (the ceremony), he wrote, “I got their approval!!” This time, it’s my schedule that can’t fit the timing. (laughs)


I: Because it was beyond your expectation and it was so sudden.
G: I couldn’t fit it into my schedule and we also couldn’t clear the budget problem at all… My office staff were the ones who contacted and arranged it with the school from then on, but it became something that was difficult to realize. “But, I’ve already made a promise…..,” I thought to myself and so I told them, “In that case, I’ll go by myself.” (laughs)


I: (But) that’s also impossible. (laughs)
G: It clashes with the staff holiday that the office was having (at that time) and one of them was holding a wedding ceremony overseas. (laughs) And so, it was three days before the graduation that we reached our final decision. You [1] and I arranged the song together, and wrote it all night through.
[1] Guitarist of GacktJob.


I: And this song is written specifically for the graduates of Maiko High School only, right? That’s quite a treat. [1]
[1] The interviewer said zeitaku actually, which means luxury or extravagance. Like, spending so much time and effort just for the students.
G: That’s true……


I: And the lyrics as well, you can’t really find lyrics like ‘school ground’ in your own works, can you?
G: No, I don’t (use that) at all! ‘The empty (school) ground’ (laughs) [1] But the song is written with the graduating students as the theme, you see. The main focus wasn’t on me; the content flew that way naturally.
[1] 誰もいないグラウンド which means ‘this ground with no one in it’.


I: And in the end, it turned out to be a great graduation ceremony, don’t you think?
G: Yes, I think it will become a great memory (for the students). I don’t know how many backs I managed to push, but at the very least, for that boy who wrote the email… I think I managed to push his back. This is what it’s like to accomplish something; this is what it’s like to keep your promise; and this is what it means to touch people’s heart and achieve something. (lit. reach some place) That is the result of hard work. If he had given up halfway, I wouldn’t have gone to the ceremony, right? In response to what he has accomplished, I feel like it’s now my turn to keep my promise. I just wanted to return that feeling.


I: He received a wide show [1] interview after the ceremony as well. While shaking and looking a little nervous. (laughs)
[1] On television.
G: Is that so? (smiles) He is a good boy. Even my staff came all the way back from overseas. All for him. (laughs) And we drove here overnight too. (laughs)


I: Should I say that’s touching or should I say that’s asking too much from the staff? (laughs)
G: But they do it because they think it has a great meaning. Perhaps there is someone who, after listening to my song, will realize for the first time the meaning of their graduation. Perhaps there will be kids who will think of working hard(er). Having the opportunity to create such a catalyst alone makes us happy.


I: You have truly created a legend. Well, there were a lot of students who were crying.
G: There were! At first they were just staring blankly, but halfway through they started bawling. [1] I was thinking this is what graduation (feels) like (*looks far away*)
[1] ブワーって泣き出すLiterally, it means, “buwaa~ they started crying,” which basically means ‘crying loudly’.


I: Did you have a touching graduation ceremony? I can’t really picture that though. (laughs)
G: Why?


I: Somehow (I picture it to be) a violent graduation ceremony. =settling scores= [1]
[1] It was written in katakana baiorensu (violence). お礼参り means visiting temples or shrines to give thanks, or it could also mean settling scores. I think what the interviewer meant was graduation being the last day, he thought Gackt might have spent it settling some last scores. (Thanks, Kit!)
G: I attended the ceremony properly. I think it felt just like today. I was rebellious and I did question the significance of this [ceremony]. But when it was over, I thought about a lot of things. If I don’t live more seriously, nothing will come out of it. Those who felt emotional during the ceremony, it wasn’t because they are more sensitive or anything like that. I don’t see it that way anymore. I think they are the ones who really worked hard to accomplish something. Be it in studies, club activities [1], love relationships, or even the act of coming to school. Only the ones who have achieved something will feel touched. To put it widely, the reason you don’t feel touched is because you didn’t give your all in living.
[1] Club activities after school hours, ranging from arts and science to sports clubs.


I: And there are such surprise presents [1] for those who have accomplished something.
[1] like Gackt coming to the ceremony
G: That’s life. It’s (full of) surprises!


I: You are like the Surprise-nii san recently. [1]
[1] Literally, it means surprise brother. The closest substitute will probably be…… Santa.
G: Surprise-aniki (laughs)
[1] He uses a much informal way of addressing brother here.


I: By the way, about the song “野に咲く花のように”. Any intention of releasing it? [1]
[1] 音源化 which translates to ‘turning something into a sound source’. It basically means turning it into a song, but since “野に咲く花のように” IS already a song, I think he meant releasing it officially.
G: No plans at all. (laughs) But it’s a great song, isn’t it? If someone says they want to hear it, I might consider it though.


I: Yes, like a signature. [1]
G: I want (it) be included in the school textbooks. Let’s start from the education first. (laughs)
[1] I’m not sure what the interviewer meant here by “signature” (署名) because it doesn’t make sense in that context to me. It made me wonder if there was a typing error there and the interviewer meant 書名 (book title) instead of 署名. [Both pronounced shomei] If it was the former, it might make a little bit more sense, like the interviewer joking about using the song as a book title and Gackt saying that he wants it to be included in school textbooks. Any opinions on this is highly welcome. ^^


Original text by: 海江敦士

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