Joetsu Town Journal: Even GACKT is surprised, Uesugi Kenshin was a woman?

With long flowing hair, the beautiful figure of Uesugi Kenshin riding a gallant horse… … Following the news that GACKT will be appearing as Uesugi Kenshin for the Kenshin Festival in Joetsu City this year, comes the theory of Uesugi Kenshin possibly having been a woman. It is the mysterious aspects of Kenshin which stirred the imagination of a writer. Up-and-coming writer, Shino Ayako’s “Woman Kenshin” was recently published in paperback form.

↓The popular effeminate GACKT Kenshin
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There are various grounds for the belief that Uesugi Kenshin could have been a woman.

(1) In his life, he had no known wives (there were no concubines as well)
(2) His cause of death was “omushi”, which was documented to be a kind of disease related to menopause
(3) Once a month, he confines himself in the castle.
(4) With reference to his armor, he had a petite stature at about 156 cm in height.
(5) He prefered wearing clothes which were in women’s colours.

In 2007, when GACKT acted as Uesugi Kenshin in the NHK taiga drama “Fuurin Kazan”, he had said that he wanted to play the character with the “female Kenshin” myth in mind and hence created the image of Kenshin with long hair. Because of GACKT’s role in the drama, he became a fan of Uesugi Kenshin and started his appearances in the Kenshin Festival.

The recently published “Woman Kenshin” begins with the scene of Kasugayama’s Lord Nagao Tamekage hoping for a son to be born, only to receive a girl. The child was then named Torachiyo and educated at Kasugayama Rinsenji. Growing up as a male, Torachiyo’s natural prowess on the battlefield blossomed, unified Echigo and eventually received the family estate from her brother. The next enemy was Takeda Shingen of Koshu. However, when Kagetora travels to Shinshu dressed as a woman, Shingen becomes the man who falls in love with her. They were fated to fight to the death at Kawanakajima──

While enjoying a novel about our local history, it would be fitting as we watch GACKT Kenshin during the live processions.

Source: joetsutj.com

©GACKT ITALIA Team