The weekly program that GACKT produced, broadcasting every Friday night at midnight, “Produced by GACKT! POKER×POKER ~Industry One-on-One Tournament” (AbemaSPECIAL).

This time around, the next 4 participants who will be representing their respective industries for the November 2018 tournament will be announced along with their comments.

On this program, a new champion will be crowned each month, and in tournaments that have been previously broadcast, the 4 participants represent the industries that they are in and challenge each other in poker.

In May, Yaguchi Mari from the idol world was the champion, while in June, it was Kobayashi Kamui from the motor sports world. In July, Takaharu Ooi from the Mahjong world reigned victorious, while in August, it was Okai Chisato from the variety idol world, and most recently, the champion in September was Suto Ririka from the idol world.

In this October tournament that is currently being aired, the four participants who are going up against each other begin with AbemaTV’s first Lifetime Meijin shogi player on a program, ranked 9-dan Moriuchi Toshiyuki who is also the managing director of the Japan Shogi Association. Other contenders are Fall In Love’s Barbie from the actress world, the first winner of AbemaTV’s ”Zen Nihon Paripi Senshuken” Akkun, and ex-NHK announcer Kanda Aika.

The broadcast on October 19 (Fri) will feature the battle between Moriuchi and Barbie. The winner will be going up against Knada. The 4 participants for the November tournament has also been announced.

Kameda Koki, the older brother of Kameda Kaiki from the boxing world who took part in June’s tournament and lost to Asuka Kirara from the sexy actress world, will be making a sudden participation to avenge the boxing world.

Also, the program’s first contestant from the wrestling world, New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Makabe Togi, a.k.a. “Runaway King Kong” will be taking part. Also nicknamed “Sweets Makabe” due to his sweet tooth, what kind of poker play will athlete Makabe show us?

Current CanCam model Hisamatsu Ikumi, and the exceptionally beautiful female Mahjong player, Tomi will be taking part as well. Furthermore, a miracle that is the first of its kind on this program will happen in this tournament.

A “Straight Flush”, that can only happen once in 72,000 times, or with a probability of 0.03%, shows up. Who is the one who manages this tremendous feat that has GACKT screaming too?

The fiery battles between the participants from varying industries in this 7th tournament will begin broadcast on November 2 (Fri), at midnight, 0:00.

Here are the comments from the participants ahead of the broadcast.

■ Boxing world representative・Kameda Koki

―― What are your thoughts regarding your first battle with Hisamatsu Ikumi from the model world?

Honestly, it’s difficult to go up against women. When you’re face to face, her expressions will gradually appear, and because she’s a woman, it feels like I’ll hold back. Things like battling with the pushing and pulling and the sort is difficult.

―― Your younger brother Daiki-san took part in the June tournament as well, but how did you feel when you decided to take part this time?

Since it’s a program where Daiki got thrashed on once, I felt that I’d be happy if I could come out on top.

―― Please share with us your enthusiasm for the November tournament.

November is my birthday month. Since my turn has arrived on my birthday month, I’d like to achieve a decisive win and celebrate for myself. I’d like a victory to be a present to myself.

■ Wrestling world representative・Makabe Togi

―― What are your thoughts regarding today’s filming?

Well, it was fun!!!　Kameda-san and I have mutual acquaintances but today is the first time that we’ve met.

To think that we’d be together today after our acquaintance said, “Let’s have a meal with Kameda-kun next time!” He truly is a sportsman, a great guy!

―― What was it like when you received the invitation to this program?

I was soooooo surprised!　Why did it come to me?　I couldn’t understand. Furthermore, it’s GACKT-san! I thought.

I thought, isn’t my only common point with GACKT-san just the appearance? You’re supposed to laugh now! (lol)

I never thought that our paths would cross in this manner so it was interesting.

People from all kinds of industries come together, and you get to see all kinds of colours too, and I also got to understand that this is the kind of person that GACKT-san is, at the same time I managed to get brought back to the basics.

―― Please share with us your enthusiasm for this tournament.

For my first battle against the female Mahjong player, I’d think that tiles and cards may have similarities, but I’d like to show that poker has completely different areas too.

I would like to show why a wrestler would be invited here. FYI, I’m not just all about power and going wild.

Also, I don’t only give reviews on desserts. No matter what I do, I want to show my most impressive side. If I could show that, it would be great though.

■ Model world representative・Hisamatsu Ikumi

―― Having tried playing poker this time around, what parts of it were easy, and what parts were difficult?

On the whole, it was difficult. I’m bad at pushes and pulls to begin with, and I understand that it is best to do it while guessing my opponent’s cards but nothing comes to mind. That was a real struggle. When I look at Kameda-san, nothing shows up on his face at all, it makes me think, “he’s good”.

―― It’s rare for such programs to be produced by GACKT-san himself but, having taken part in this program, how do you find it?

I’ve always watched GACKT-san on TV ever since young, so I was overwhelmed by his aura, and I ended up getting nervous.

I was nervous from the competition, and then I got nervous of GACKT-san (lol).

I didn’t expect that points could be lost by laughing (lol).

―― Was it difficult to hold your laughter?

Yes (lol), when I meet Kameda-san’s eyes, it just makes me want to laugh!

Despite that I kept in mind that I can’t go with it, I kept laughing.

■ Female Mahjong player world representative・Tomi

―― What was led to your first experience in poker experience?

I was influenced by my friend. Before I became a Mahjong pro, I played both of them as a hobby.

I was told, “If you enjoy Mahjong, then poker will be up your alley too”, so I started looking up the rules and learning it myself. I’ve played it in games too, and I can’t remember if it was Macau or Korea, but I’ve made my poker debut overseas too.

―― Having met GACKT-san in the flesh, how was it?

I was nervous. I was nervous and I can’t laugh. I’ve been given penalties a few times but, Makabe-san didn’t get a single one, and I thought that was amazing. I ended up laughing a lot.

―― As someone who has experience in poker, please share your enthusiasm about this battle.

I cannot afford to lose. As someone who has been playing poker, I don’t want to lose, and I want to achieve something no matter what. I think that I can win with my efforts.

Source: nicovideo.jp

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA