Gackt

Gackt
Gackt in 2017
Gackt in 2017
Background information
Birth nameGakuto Oshiro (大城 ガクト, Ōshiro Gakuto)
Also known asGackt Camui (神威 楽斗, Kamui Gakuto)
Born (1973-07-04) July 4, 1973 (age 51)
Okinawa, Japan
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
  • actor
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • drums
DiscographyGackt discography
Years active1993–2021, 2022–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitegackt.com

Gakuto Oshiro (大城 ガクト, Ōshiro Gakuto, born July 4, 1973),[nb 1][9] better known by his mononymous stage name Gackt (stylized in all caps),[nb 2] is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actor.

Born in Okinawa, Japan, to a Ryukyuan family, Gackt learned the piano at a young age and was raised on classical music and enka before becoming interested in rock music while attending high school. He has been active since 1993, first as the frontman of the short-lived independent band Cains:Feel, and then from 1995 the now-defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. Gackt started his solo career in 1999 with debut mini-album Mizérable and first full-length album Mars (2000). He has released nine studio albums and, with forty-eight singles released, holds the male soloist record for most top ten consecutive singles in Japanese music history.[11] They are mostly conceived around two conceptual stories "Moon Saga" (Moon, Crescent, Diabolos, Last Moon) and "Requiem et Reminiscence" (Rebirth, Re:Born) which are performed live in uniquely elaborate concerts. His single "Returner (Yami no Shūen)" (2007), is his first and only single to reach the number one spot on the Oricon charts.[12] As a solo artist, Gackt has sold over 10 million records.[13] In 2007 became a founding member of S.K.I.N., a Japanese visual kei rock supergroup.

Besides being established in the modern entertainment industry and considered a pop icon, Gackt's music has been used as theme songs for video games (Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII), video game films (Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker), anime series/films (New Fist of the North Star, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Texhnolyze and Trickster) and television series (Kamen Rider Decade). In addition to his music career, Gackt has voice acted (including characters inspired by him in video games like in Bujingai and Genesis Rhapsodos in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII), and live acted in a few films, including a film he wrote, Moon Child, his international debut Bunraku, Japan Academy award nomination performance for Best Actor in Fly Me to the Saitama, and TV series most notably as Uesugi Kenshin in the NHK drama Fūrin Kazan. He also performed live in theatre stage plays, Nemuri Kyoshiro Buraihikae and a duology he has written, composed, and directed Moon Saga: Mysteries of Yoshitsune I & II. He also provided the voice samples for Internet Co., Ltd.'s first Vocaloid, Gackpoid.

  1. ^ Miller, Laura (2012). "Youth fashion and beautification". Japan's Changing Generations: Are Young People Creating a New Society?. Routledge. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-134-35389-7.
  2. ^ Henry Johnson; Akitsugu Kawamoto (2016). "Visual Kei: Glamour in Japanese Pop Music". Global Glam and Popular Music: Style and Spectacle from the 1970s to the 2000s. Routledge. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-317-58819-1.
  3. ^ Valerie Cross (August 28, 2017). "Pop Music Star Gackt Attempting to Change Poker's Image in Japan". PokerNews. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Paul Campbell [@TDPaulCampbell] (July 8, 2017). "Results from yesterday's @ARIAPoker $25K High Roller" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "GACKTが初めて本名を明かし、実業家として仮想通貨事業に取り組むことを発表". Natalie (in Japanese). December 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "GACKT、実業家として初めて本名を公表 大型の新規事業の全貌も明らかに". Ameba (in Japanese). CyberAgent Inc. December 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "「Gackt様」オバさまに超人気 秘密は謙信「妖艶」の役柄作り" (in Japanese). J-Cast. November 11, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "年齢不詳のGackt、遂に実年齢をカミングアウト｢来年37歳!｣" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Gackt becomes GACKT to celebrate 10th anniversary". Japan Today. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Gackt、男性ソロ1位の39作目TOP10 田原俊彦の記録を19年ぶり更新" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 19, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "Gackt、1999年デビュー以来初の1位獲得!" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 26, 2007. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2007.
  13. ^ "Oricon Profile (2009-07-15 更新 "Update")" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 15, 2009. Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.


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