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TRANSLATION JTIMES: Kenshin Festival Press conference interview - August 27th 2015
GACKT's press conference on the 90th Kenshin Festival "I could consider Joetsu as my adoptive hometown!" Appearance to next year's festival?!
In the historical center of Kasugayama (Joetsu city) the 90th edition of the Kenshin Festival has been held on the 22nd and 23rd of August. For the 7th time, third year in a row, GACKT has participated in the re-enactment of the Kawanakashima battle, held on the 23rd of August, he had the honor to portrait General Kenshin again. Furthermore, there was a boost of about 24 thousand people in the audience at the event! On the side of the roads along the Sanroku line, in the center of Kasugayama where the re-enactment of the Kawanakashima battle has been held, millions of fans from around the nation came to see Kenshin GACKT. The day of the parade, August 22nd, GACKT has met with the authorities, the mayor and the press, that asked him some questions regarding the Kenshin festival and a possible appearance next year!
Question 1) How do you feel to have faced this event for 7 times in a row?
GACKT) I remember one time during the rehearsals I fell from the horse due to the rain, fortunately I didn't got hurt! This accidents happen to me once every five years or so, and since it happened just a few before the event I was scared not to be able to attend the festival! After I feel, obviously I wasn't happy, and many people told me that I had to stop, but, since I didn't thing so I started to run on the horse as if nothing happened, sure of the good result of the event! Last year I broke my food and in spite of that I still participated, so since I didn't get hurt this year, I'm sure my fans will see a GACKT in wonderful shape!
Question 2) This year we arrived at the 90th edition. What are your impressions on the past editions?
GACKT) As usual every year this festival is planned in very hot summer days, but surprisingly this year they said it rained, and because of this weather change tomorrow will probably be a cool day! This relieves me! In the past editions people attending have increased till this 90th edition, at the 91st one maybe there will be 30 thousands, maybe 40 thousand people will attend this event so to create a magnificent festival. This will be my main goal for the next editions! I think this is a festival that can give joy to adults and kids living in a Japan with no strength. I wis for all Joetsu city's people to participate next year, including the ones who decided not to attend this event. The Kenshin festival has a great potential for development. I don't know how true this dream can be but I'm sure it will happen! This festival becomes more and more popular among people every year, so new tricks will be added to one of the festivals that represent Japan the most already from next year, and I think that we can make it also thanks to the collaboration of this city and the private industries. If Joetsu's citizens allow me, I'd want to play this role until the city will stand.
Question 3) On March the 3rd of this year the works for the Shinkansen Hokoriku line have opened, and this city was very happy about it! What do you think about this GACKT?
GACKT) Well, there aren't so many beautiful cities as this one! There are many people who don't know Joetsu's beauty, they should come here and see this festival to take it in completely. The first time I set foot in this city, I was caught by the architecture, who was unchanged since centuries and many places where it's possible to embrace history and feel a connection with it thanks to this city. Since they promised me to participate to this event till the Shinkansen line won't open, I'd want you to give your best to make this festival even bigger so that in 5,10 years it can become very important and make Joetsu city very important too. However this musst not be the only goal, the most important thing is not to make the city important but to keep this event going and try to keep as many trations as we can intact. In this last period Japan has been living a moment of modernization, destroying and deleting all the typical aspects of our cities. We should try to defend these places, because the beauty of this places can't be found just by watching a movie or a documentary on tv, but it should be felt with our own body. Every time I come back to this city, many Joetsu's citizens tell me "Welcome back", making me feel all their warmth, so that I can consider Joetsu as my second hometown! The warmth of the people is added to the warmth that this place has, creating a perfect harmony! I don't want these feelings to be felt only by me, but from all Japan's people!
Source: J-times
Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team
© GACKT ITALIA
TRANSLATION J-TIMES.JP: Here some reviews about Kenshin Festival: "Kenshin GACKT? He was fantastic, beautiful!" - August 27th 2015
In Kasugayama's downtown (Joetsu City) the 9oth Kenshin Festival edition was held on 22th and 23th August. In the Kawanakashima's battle representation, on 23th August, GACKT has partecipated fot the seventh time in 3 years in a row, he had again the honour to play the role of the general Kenshin. Furthemore, compared to the last year edition, there was an increase of about 24,000 spectators at the event! On the sides of the roads along the Sanroku's line, in the historic center of Kasugayama where there was the representation of the Kawanakashima's Battle, millions of fans arrived from different parts of the country with the intent to see Kenshin GACKT. We also tried to ask the opinions of the viewers about the Kenshin GACKT's appeal and the Kenshin Festival!
The impact was very strong! The feeling of being able to see with my own eyes the general Kenshin. I finally understand the enthusiasm of GACKT for this event. he doesn't do it only for our Joetsu City, but also to make known to the whole country this fantastic festival. (Man of 52 years of Niigata)
I come here every year to see this event. Everytime when I see GACKT, I have the impression that he would say "Thank you so much Joetsu". Compared to last year people are really risen! What can I say, I hope that next year GACKT will be here again! (Woman about 30 years old from Ibaraki City, Koga Prefecture)
It was really cool being able to see this event up close! I wanted to come last year too but I couldn't because of the distance of the event. But from this year I hope to come more often. And I'm going to see again the representation of the Kawanakashima's battle! (Boy 18 years old from Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture)
This for me was the second time, the figure of GACKT riding that horse is really beautiful. I think I'll come back to the Kenshin Festival even if GACKT won't participate again. (Woman from Matsumoto City, Nagano prefecture)
This is the seventh time in a row that GACKT participate in this event. I really appreciate it, however, every year the songs and costumes change! If GACKT will partecipate again next year, I will come here too! (Woman from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture)
This is the fourth time for me and I must say that this year GACKT was fantastic! They given me a front row seat, I was helped by people in order to get to Joetsu City, I can say that in this city, you can feel a very special warmth! (Woman of 28 years old from Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture .)
It's the first time I come to this place. People are great, they were sitting on the ground beside the road although they couldn't see anything! From the street, however, it was still possible to warn that the figure on the horseback, was a figure very brave! I was surprised by GACKT's face, I did't expect it so small! (Female 50 years old from Joetsu City)
I come here every year and I must say, the festival is always full of changes! I think this is the last year that we will see here GACKT to play Kenshin even if he brings many viewers to follow the festival. Who will be the next to play the general Kenshin? (Man of 58 years from Joetsu City, Teramachi)
Source: J-TIMES.JP
Translation: GACKT Italia Team
© GACKT Italia
TRANSLATION J-TIMES: Kenshin Kousai number of participants reached its record high - August 24th 2015
Kenshin Kousai number of participants reached its record high with 243.000 people. GACKT's message, [Please, come next year too]
The Kenshin Kousai that reached this year its 90th edition made a record high in visitors. This was the announcement made on August the 24th by the Kenshin Kousai Sponsorship office (Tourism promotion department) .
GACKT, leading protagonist of this festival, and Uesugi Kenshi interpreter commented "I want to bring this festival into being a representative festival of Japan".
According to the city rappresentative, visitors were 2.500 on the night before the event, 33.800 on the 22nd, and for GACKT's parade e re-enactment of the Kawanakajima Battle on the 23rd there were 209.400 visitors.
With the total ammount of 243.000 people, exceeding the previous record on the 2012 by 3.000 people. The city was blessed with good weather, and thanks to GACKT's participation the number of one-day visitors that used the new Shinkansen line increased.
GACKT said "Since the temperature this year was lower than other years the number of people that suffered from heatstroke decreased, and that was a relief. Even though this is a festival that increased its number of participant year after year, next year I'm thinking about how new exciting elements could be added to make this a rappresentative festival of Japan, so it can succeed as a big event, and I want to work with the city representatives and its people" .
Mayor Murayama Hideyuki in an interview this morning, accompanied GACKT's statement of "involving citizens more actively" saying "I think he was trying to say that spreading the value of the Kenshin Kousai is really important. There is history behind every local festival but, it's necessary to think about the feelings of this 200.000 visitors first.
About the possibility of inviting GACKT to future events he replied "Will think about it with the Executive Committee.
The 90th edition came along with the opening of the Hokuriku region, "With this year participation he'll be taking a break" said the hed of the Executive Committee --- "I would like to see, the participants of Joetsu citizens, and I want to discuss what to do with the festival, including the next year's guest to improve it".
Source: J-times
Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team
© GACKT ITALIA
TRANSLATION JOETSU JOURNAL: High record of participants for the 90th Kenshin Kousai annouced - August 24th 2015
In Joetsu, Niigata prefecture, on August the 24th has been announced that participant at the Kenshin Kousai (from 21 to 23 August) with musician GACKT serving as Uesugi Kanshin have reached the record high of 243.000 people.
Photo: the crowd of people gathered to see the parade
GACKT participation started in 2007, and this is his third consecutive year and the seventh time overall.
Of course, in all his participations he was able to break through the 200.000 number of visitors, but until now the record of attendance was in 2010 with 240.111 of people.
From the sponsors side, in addition to the benefits of GACKT's participation, has been calculated that it led to an increase of customers using the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, opened in March this year, for day trips.
According to the announcement, on the 21st evening before the festival, 2500 people used the line, on the 22sd for the rising of the signal fire and the Oobussanshi events 33.000 users, and on the 23rd for the parade and the Kawanakajima battle re-enactment 209,000 users.
Will GACKT participate to future events?
GACKT after completing this year's festival announced "Next year I'm thinking about how new exciting elements could be added to make this a rappresentative festival of Japan, so it can suceeed as a big event, and I'll be working with the city representative and its people"
The executive committee said about GACKT's appearance "After this year he'll be taking a break" . On the 24th, at the regular press conference the Mayor Murayama Hideyuki said referring to his statement above "I wish to give some serious thoughts about how GACKT's presence can be of encouragement to the festival and how this would influece the citizens. I, together with the executive committee will be thinking about how to improve this festival from nex year on"
Source: Joetsu Journal
Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team
© GACKT ITALIA
TRANSLATION J-TIMES.JP: GACKT shows interest in an upcoming edition of the festival in honor of General Kenshin, "I'll do it again next year, this festival has the potential" - August 24th 2015
GACKT, in the role of General Kenshin, on August 23rd, has starred in the assault of Kawanakashima in the 90th Kenshin Festival edition. On 22nd August, at the Institute of culture of Joetsu City, GACKT has met the mayor Hideyuki Moriyama and his officials for a conference and he received a really great welcome.
GACKT said: "I think seriously that this festival will become very popular already from next year with the participation of 40 thousand or perhaps even 50 thousand people. If you want me again for next year, I will definitely participate in this festival." .Mayor's officials and the office's members have also signed commemorative posters of the festival.
After the conference GACKT said : "After five years, this time I had an accident, slipping from horse during riding exercises but fortunately I didn't hurt much. Since my leg didn't appear to suffer any damage, I'm sure you will see a really fit Kenshin GACKT.
Looking at the past in all his appearances, he adds: "It was always a festival organized in hot weather, but this year I think the temperature was much cooler than other years. I think this is a festival that can help both adults and children to back delight to who live in Japan with no energy. I wish that next year everyone in Joetsu will partecipate, including those who haven't decided to participate in this festival. The Kenshin Festival has really a high development potential, so it can become already a grand festival in only 6 editions. "
Regarding the pending opening of the work of the shinkansen Hokoriku's line, he adds: "There are many people who don't know the beauty of Joetsu, they should really come to see this festival to catch it in full. I wish, with regard to historic sites, they may have a direct contact with them, not only through documentaries on television."
Fonte: J-TIMES.JP
Traduzione: GACKT Italia Team
© GACKT Italia