In an exclusive interview with Abematimes, singer and actor GACKT spoke of the most vexing thing that happened to him recently, saying 「I’ve turned 44 this year but there were many times when I tasted disappointment through poker」. GACKT, who became big fan of 「Texas Hold’em」 poker, which has hundreds of millions of players overseas, around 6 years ago, said 「It’s a blessing to be able to feel such frustration in life」, mentioning that the sought inspiration by participating in numerous tournaments that professionals play in too.

　GACKT has captured the hearts of many fans with his powerful presence and personality, but he was not entirely satisfied with his daily life. It was because the number of things that makes him feel inspired or frustrated has gradually decreased with age.

　GACKT:　Poker is not completely based on luck, it is something that you compete against opponents in with strategy. It’s not a game where the result is decided after one or two rounds, but instead it only gets decided after a few hundred times. The older you grow, the less stimulus there is. That’s because you get used to all kinds of things. There are also a lot less things that make you feel frustrated as compared to when you’re young but it’s a blessing that I’m able to feel taste frustration time and again through poker.

　In Texas Hold’em, a player tries to create the strongest possible combination with 7 cards, 2 cards in their hand and the 5 community cards, then using their combination, they compete against their opponents. Step by step, a player will decide on their strategy and how much chips they’ll use by looking at the community cards that have been revealed, their own hand, their opponents’ appearance and gestures. Even if you’re in a weak state, there’s a possibility that you can get your opponent to back down from the challenge by coming out strongly, yet at the same time, you might flinch from an opponent’s aggressive attitude even if you’re in a strong position and thus lose the chance to win. It is such a tactical game, which pushes the mind, that moves GACKT’s heart.

　GACKT:　Among businessmen, a lot of them are successful in life in many ways. And these businessmen take part in poker competitions a lot. The reason why they do that is because they will get to feel frustration again, and the other feelings that a person has to feel. Poker has nothing to do with age or gender, it’s a world where the strong are respected.

　As a poker player, GACKT is good at pressuring his opponents by making them think that his hand is stronger than it really is with the way he bets his chips, his gestures, and keeping a straight face. Even so, he says that when he doesn’t push or pull when he should, he often thinks that 「I’m terrible at this」.

　GACKT:　If you get your own reading wrong, then everything will go bad and huge mistakes will be made. When I’m able to make it look like my cards are strong while reading your opponent’s cards correctly, I’m extremely happy. But if I show my joy then I’ll give it away, right? (smile). Another good thing about poker is that I can’t gradually show my delight.

　This psychological battle is one where you bet your chips with limited information in the midst of being unable to see each other’s cards. Like how you’d form the shape of a gun with your hand under clothes, if you can make your opponent think that it’s a real gun, then you’d have won. If they think it’s just a hand, then you’ve lost. That’s the kind of battle it is. And that is why, the widely known description of an expressionless face,「the poker face」, can make the difference between winning and losing.

　GACKT:　Often, there are people who say this isn’t suitable for people whose feelings often show on their faces, but that’s not the case. If your expressions show then show them, there are also ways to make use of them. I basically don’t have any expression but when I back down on purpose, there are times when I create habits to show the opponent. By repeating it a few times, the opponent will come to believe it and then I can make use of this. This is similar to acting. When I have actor friends play it, they’re overflowing with expressive ability so it’s enjoyable. With Yamada Takayuki, he has an amazing air of intimidation so if he practices, he’ll definitely go far.

　With such an air, GACKT seems like he has no relationship with frustration but instead, with a desire for frustration, he goes overseas to pit himself in serious competition against the strong at the table. The taste of a superb victory that comes after that frustration is what delights GACKT who loves the “first-class”.

Source: abematimes.com

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA