WYLFRE GAZETTE

TOP STORY: STARBLADES REUNITE

The Starblades were once the most powerful family in the Wlyfre Realms. Then five years ago they simply disappeared. The empty, crumbling Temple of the Dragon seems to stand as the only reminder of the Starblades legacy. Since their mysterious disappearance, the Realms have be filled with fantastical rumors about the Starblade Clan. Most residents of Wylfre simply believe the entire family of demi-god elves had ascended to the Celestial Realm to join their queen, Mononaka.


Those rumors were put to rest this past month when Starblade representative Noa Reiner announced the Starblade Legacy. Ms. Reiner explained that the Starblade Legacy would be a multi-character reunion that was to take place at the end of the year. Fan favorites such as founder Hope Starblade, Dream Starblade, Cyrus Starblade, and Sage Lightkiller will all be joining together once more for a final quest of epic portions. Noa Reiner promises that the Starblades will be making public appearances late in the faire season to explain their newest project as well as their five year vanishing act. Though an air of mystery still hangs around the sudden reunion tour but two official website have been opened to the public:

http://thestarbladechronicles.bravehost.com/

http://morbidfancy.greatestjournal.com/

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Wylfre Author Announces Birth of Daughter

The Starblade biography’s author Jamie G. has finally announce the birth of her first daughter Jadalynn. Even though reports place the baby’s birth around February 5th of this year, Jamie has held back the official announcement until recently. The Wylfre Group’s spokeswoman, Nyx Moonshade, says “They [the Wylfre Group] wanted to hold off the official announcement until the baby was a little older to save her from some of the stresses of the press and paparazzi. The family is simply looking out for their daughter’s well-being.” The birth announcement was met with celebration throughout the Wylfre Realms, along with a lot of questions. Was the announcement actually held back for the protection of the baby or to boost the hype surrounding the Starblade Legacy Project?
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Noa Reiner Reveals New Series

Noa Reiner, also know as “Mysse”, revealed her first solo project this week. Ms. Reiner spoke with the Wylfre Gazette personally about her new novel, tentatively being called Return to Eternity. Ms. Reiner mentioned “I am happy to be able to explore a new world of my own making without having to compromise my own ideas like I have to do with the Wylfre Group. I do miss working with them [the Wylfre Group] but it is nice to expand my own literary style.” Ms. Reiner assures the new novel will sill have her unique blend of action and angst that she’s become legendary for, but she hopes to explore new venues of writing with this project. Though it is not Noa Reiner’s very first novel, it is her first since her success with the beginning of the Wylfre Group. Ms. Reiner has achieved mild success from several short novelettes she’s published in literary journals. Some of her most popular titles included Shallow Sleep, Mercury Heaven, Love Lessons, Sphere of the Night, and the collection of short stories first printed in Technicolour Raindrops on Concrete. Under a second, secret nom de plume, “Morbid/Fancy”, Ms. Reiner self published two books of poetry called Love Letters to No One and Love Letters to No One : Full bloom. Though none of her earlier works received as much recognition as her Wylfre works, she has been honored by several literary council for her extensive collection of works. Anyone interested in reading Reiner’s first solo book shouldn’t hold their breath. Return to Eternity won’t released until late in 2009.
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Everyone is waiting ….
Where are you?

JOIN MYSPACE.COM AND START THE QUEST

There’s always someone waiting to meet you online so join today. Must be 18 years or older to sign up. Myspace.com is not responsible for dragon attacks. RPG at your own risk.
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Letters to the Editor

Greetings once again my wayward friends. Obviously, we don't see each other as much as we use to anymore, (that's if we see each other at all, of course). After Jamie and I dropped Nyx off on Monday, we got to talking about the Starblades. Total blast from the past, wouldn't you say? It turns out Jamie's been saving our old chats and sticking with the Starblade's timeline. As a factor of this a whole wealth of knowledge we thought perhaps lost is now carefully documented and saved. And if it's not, who gives a SH*T! It was fun to write all those wild and crazy tales about Hope, the Temple of the Dragon, and the entire Starblade Universe. That's why I'm suggesting we use this online journal as a way to communicate our stories once more. I'm suggesting we band together once more and finally write out the Starblade Saga once and for all. I for one would love to step back into Hope Starblade's head and finish the tales of the dragon priestess. And I'm more then certain Jamie is dieing to finally put together the travels of Dream Starblade, the lost princess of the Starblades. And does anyone remember Silence, Shadow, Saylee, Windsong, Zomi Silverthorne, Sage, and Noak?

Anyways what I'm trying to get out is that I think it's important we put our heads together again and write these stories. I know a lot of bad blood has come between all of us, and TONS! of backstabbing. But I can forgive that, maybe not forget, but forgive if there is a chance we could put aside our differences to finish this story. This is OUR legacy, OUR story! It brought so many of us friendships, laughter, and a small relief from the horrible times we've suffered in. If it could do that for us, then why should we hold it back from others?! We could give that joy, that light, to others. This is our gift and we should not hold it back!

So I ask all of you once more to join together as one and finish our story. Let this be how we remember our times together and not one of sadness and defeat.

With love, compassion, and hope,
Noa Reiner~


TOWN BULLETIN BOARD

One Day, All-You-Can-Eat Maiden Buffet! Sunday from 5-7 pm.
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Dwarf Crafted Swords and Sabers. Forged from only the finest steels. Why go to a human when you can have your next sword made by a dwarf with a 100 years experience. Come check out our selection at Frostbite and Sons. 332 Munchkin Lane. 
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Sports Column

Knights vs. Dragons

The St. George Knights and the Hades Dragons faced off again this Saturday in a heated rivalry. Knight’s footmen were flame broiled in the first quarter while Dragon’s wings were minutely clipped. But the knights came back strong in the second period, taking down the Dragon’s head flyer, Brimstone, and looked to be winning until the Knight’s Sir Liechtenstein was thrown from his stead then barbequed by Clobber -Breath the Red. The Knights limped through the finally quarter for a tied game, 6 Slain Dragons to 6 Roasted Knights. The teams will meet another time this Monday to decide who will go on to the semi-finals against the Tolken Orcs.
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Horoscopes

Aries (March 21- April 20)
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH! Heed this advice or end up like Caesar. Et tu….?

Taurus (April 20- May 21)
Those roving bands of goblins will be heading your way soon, so don’t be surprised if you’re rob this week on the trade roads.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)
You’re better half will be stopping in to chat this week so spruce up the castle and put out some new tapestries. You never know when a party might roll up to your gates!

Cancer (June 22- July 22)
The Moon is in your celestial house this week, so look forward to some fond memories and musing. Don’t be surprised if a real Muse stops by to inspire you.


Leo (July 23- Aug 21)
No need to be a lion this week, play it like a lamb. You’re docile ways will win over your foes.

Virgo (Aug 22-Sept 23)
Avoid the All-You-Can-Eat buffet this week or you might find yourself on the menu!

Libra (Sept 24- Oct 23)
You’ll be asked to do a balancing act this week but don’t worry, the scales will tip in your favor in the end.

Scorpio (Oct 24- Nov 22)
The dogs bark might be worse then his bite, but your stinging comments might kill if taken too seriously. Watch what you say.

Sagittarius (Nov 23- Dec 22)
Don’t let the holidays run away with you! Take some time to rest those aching hooves before starting out on the quest for the ultimate gift.

Capricorn (Dec 23- Jan 20)
Stop butting heads with your family. It times you all sat down and discussed who let the lawn gnome escape from the garden.

Aquarius (Jan 21- Feb 19)
You may be drowning in holiday debt, but it’s time for you to take a spa day. Try drowning yourself in luxury this week instead of worry.

Pisces (Feb 20- March 20)
Fishing around for answers isn’t getting you anywhere, so cast out your nets and go right for the heart of the truth. Your keen instincts will do the rest.
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This week only, the Battle of the Sexes! Thor the Magnificent faces off against Mauve the Valiant! One night only at the Wlyfre Faire Grounds. 7:30- Main Event.

Escape to Atlantis
Get away from the drudgery of peasantry and live like kings on a five day and four nights, all expenses paid trip to Atlantis.
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Tired of those sleepless nights, chasing down poor villagers? Want to give up the urge to howl at the full moon? Then try our new formulated WERE-BE-GONE!

You’ll never have to worry about fur balls again!

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The Wylfre Group would like to thank all of their subscribers for their support and fellowship. Thank you.

Japan-O-Vasion

Third Edition : The Muses of J-Pop Invade! (run for your lives!!)

Holy pop stars otaku! Japanese musicians are just cropping up everywhere these days. You can’t crack open your favorite manga with out catching some artist making a sneaky little cameo, or watch your newest anime without hearing some J-Rocker (or Popper) crooning the background. And have you ever had the sneaking suspicion you’ve seen your video game character in a J-Pop fansite gallery before? No you’re no imagining it, Japanese artists are everywhere, even on that milk carton you’re drinking directly out of. Gross dude, you can make people sick doing that. Didn’t anyone teach you manners?
Okay so maybe Hyde and Yoshiki aren’t on the missing photo of your milk carton, but they might as well be! (And no it’s not because they were kidnapped by crazed fan girls you silly nave!) But Japanese pop and rock stars seem to be everywhere you look now and days. I’ve noticed recently how saturated my mangas, animes, and video games are with Japanese singers. I don’t know if anyone else has notice this interesting (and cute!) trend but if you haven’t I have one question: WHAT ROCK HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING UNDER FOR THE PAST YEAR?!
Let me give you all just a brief description of the artists I’ve noticed cameo in my favorite mangas. We’ll start out with the most blatant use of a J-Rock in a manga, Ko Ya-Seong’s Under the Glass Moon. Anyone who’s even peeked at the book and has any working knowledge of Malice Mizer (shame on you if you don’t!) can quickly guess who I’m talking about. Madame Batolli is clearly, undeniably, and unmistakably modeled exclusively after our loveable (*cough* and frightening *cough*) Mana-sama. (I dare not use “Mana-chan” lest he hunt me down and whip me. I’ve seen the Illuminati PV people and I know he won’t cringe from a little bloody work!). Ko Ya-Seong confessed that the Madame was definitely Mana, the former guitarist of Malice Mizer and more recently Moi Dix Mon. When I first saw Madame B. I totally cracked up. I thought it was awesome to see that even in a Korean manga, or mangwa, there was so clearly a J-Rock influence. But as I went on in the series (sadly only two books L ) that J-Rock artists were popping up like daisies all over the place! In the first book on page 32, the Christmas party, check out the hotdog vender and hum this little ditty to yourself, Les Mizerables. BINGO! We have a confirmed Gackt sighting! That’s right my Camui fanatics, it’s your musical god all decked out in his ‘Dark Prince’ outfit from the Mizerable PV. And if you scan page 32 again you’ll catch the elusive Izam, heart inscribed with name included, chatting it up with Madame Batolli. Oh my little lovelies, it doesn’t conclude there. Hohoho, oh no! We still have book two! Unfortunately, with all my J-Pop stalking I could only find you one obvious J-Rocker. Madame Batolli’s forbidden love, Hakuei from Penicillin. On page 68 of volume two, Madame confides in Leila Franks that if a love potion really existed, Hakuei would be her’s already. Aww, poor Hakuei! But Ko Ya-Seong isn’t the only manga-ka spicing up the manga scenes with cameos from J-Pop looking doppelgangers.
Check out The Wallflower by Tomoko Hayakawa sometimes. In her authors blurts she writes she model her four bishonen characters after several Japanese musicians, a couple of which are from the indie band Risk. Granted none of the characters personalities are based on these musicians, just some of their looks. And if you like awkward hijinks, macabre humor, and enough bishonen to give you a nosebleed I suggest a box of tissues and The Wallflower for anyone!
Wait, wait, wait you say? There’s still someone in The Wallflower I’m forgetting? No way I’m forgetting that classic cameo baby! Once more the God of Music, aka Gackt, appears in Wallflower. He appears in volume two during the school festival. First on page 15 where he’s teasing poor Kyohei for causing an explosion. It’s not Kyohei’s fault disaster follows him around constantly! Bad Gackt! Stop picking on Kyohei! But Gackt couldn’t just pop in once and be done with it, no way. Try page 39. He flexes his history muscles and gives us all a quick and creepy fact about the school once being the sight of Edo executions. (It’s because you see dead people isn’t it Gackt? Stop it, you’re creeping me out!)
And while we’re on the subject of Gackt, and because I sold my soul to him for a bag of gummy bears, I have to mention Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase. And I also have to admit that I think Absolute Boyfriend is incredibly adorable! But anyways, back to Gackt, if you’ve ever read Absolute Boyfriend you all know who Night is. And for you who haven’t (first you didn’t know Malice Mizer and now you don’t know about Night?! Shame upon you and your family! Shame, shame, shame, shame! The Gackt Goddess will smite you for your blasphemy against the Camui!) Even though you’ve all probably already figured it out I still have to say it: Night is modeled after Camui Gackt. And isn’t he so hot? I think Night is totally kawaii! And the fact he’s always undressing suddenly is hilarious! I couldn’t stop laughing the first time I read Absolute Boyfriend in Shojo Beat Magazine. I’m addicted now and my sides hurt real bad from all the giggling.
Let me apologize and warn those of you reading on from this point who aren’t Gackt fans. I realize a lot of people out there can’t stand Camui Gackt’s music, voice, movies, face, whatever and I don’t hold it against you. You’re decision, your life, I won’t try and convince you otherwise. Personally I think Camui Gackt is a great singer and I feel inspired by his music. Please just stop reading this right now if you can’t stand another minute of Gackt cause there’s going to be about a gazillion more mentions of him from here on out. For the rest of you who are intrigued or are Gackt fans I encourage you to continue reading this article and join this group started by the Gackt Goddess, Nora-san: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/gacktnights/ . Okay that was my warning / plug for Gackt Nights. Back to my intensive stalking, err, I mean J-Rock spotting.
I haven’t actually seen Gackt or a Gackt look alike in any animes, and if there is go ahead and give me a shout out! But I know of two animes that have Gackt openings and closing. The opening for the Fist of the North Star series is and the closing is Oasis, both by Gackt. As well the closing of Texyholica is Uta no Tsuki, or “Song of the Moon” by Camui Gackt. If I’m missing any just drop me a line and remind me.
Finally we come to video games, one of my favorite topics! I know you guys probably don’t believe me but I am a huge girl gamer. If I had the chance I would so join the Frag Dolls, though I doubt I’d be on par with most of them. I love gaming but I’ll be the first to admit I’m not always the best gamer. But still here’s my record is Bujingai: Forsaken City beaten in four days (most likely something like 26 or 28 hours but I had to take time to go to work, eat, sleep, and go to school so it had to be broken up into four days) without cheats or strategy guide. And wanna know the coolest part? Yep, it had Gackt! The main character of the game, Lau, is not only modeled after Gackt but Gackt did all of Lau’s voice acting and motion capturing. As an added bonus you can collect gold coins throughout the game to unlock certain goodies like an interview with Gackt, the press conference to announce the game’s release, Gackt’s motion capture session, and a clothing change from Lau to Gackt. That’s right Dears, you can play as Gackt! I did and it was so hilarious. I found it very amusing, and a tad bit ridiculous, to be running around defeating Ice Dragons and zombie demons dressed in leather pants, a snake skin shirt (isn‘t it snake skin?), and sunglasses. (Personally I thought it would be really great if they had a second wardrobe change to Gackt’s character Sho from Moon Child. Running around in a white trench coat would have been much more convincing then the actually wardrobe change in the game.)
But I can’t mention video games and Gackt without the obvious gamer double that’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Final Fantasy 8’s Squall Leonheart. Even Gackt thinks he got ripped off. When Gackt calls a game character ‘Gackt Two’ you know it look like him!
So there it is, your quick education in Japanese musician cameos in mangas, animes, and video games. So the next time you think someone looks a lot like your favorite singer it could just be a possibility that it is. So keep your eyes open and your ears. Good luck and good night from your favorite Voodoo Doll, Mysse.
Ps: BTW- I realize that I didn’t Gackt’s name a gazillion times in case you were counting but I mentioned it enough to give me a hand cramp! So nya!

Japan-O-Vasion

Second Edition : Vanilla, the Finest of the Flavors

Turn it up! I wanna hear that funky beat blazing out the windows when I cruise main street! Sing along with me “kimi no boku wa Vanilla” or for those who don’t know Gackt’s “Vanilla” (oh the horror!) let me translate, “ I am your Vanilla” . Yes it’s a very dirty, dirty (did I mention tasty?) song. I was once told that art is the barometer of a time period in history, the emotional map to an era. And I have also been told that music, with it’s primal origins and significance, is the art of overcoming differences and appealing to people on the deepest emotional level possible. Music carries a message, if you get it or not it leaves you with some sort of response. There’s no escaping music, it’s all around you. Pounding on your cranium and doing a salsa through your eardrums. Try and deny that the earworm doesn’t bite you and leave you humming the most annoying, tedious song all day. Yah, you know it does!! Sugar pop sticky goodness melting into ever fissure of your brain. Music connects us even when we disagree and have nothing else in common. To quote Deep Blue Something “and I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany’s and you said yah I think we both kind of liked that.” We even write songs about connecting to each other! You don’t always have to understand every word, hell you don’t even have to speak to language to know a good song when you hear it. You just have to listen and take it in, let it move you. Don’t concentrate on the words, they’re just a gurgling of syllables assembled together to represent something we like to chit chat about. It’s what underneath the words, in the voice, in the soul, in the music. It’s the raw surging emotion. That tingle you feel in your finger tips that makes them itch, the tapping in your foot, the chills down your spine as all the little hairs stand up in unison. Yah lovelies, that’s the feeling, that’s the music.
I learned this lesson one day while dredging through my routines at school. I was at a bad place in my life, dark and alone and frightened of my own existence. Yet somehow, but some saving grace, I was found by someone who cared. She gave to me a gift that teenagers had been sharing in homes, schools, dark alleyways, and high rises for years. She gave me music, music that moved me to tears. I had no clue what he was saying, no clue what it all meant, but it hit me somewhere deep inside and knocked the air out of me. A dark, beautiful voice dripping with melancholy whispering to me miserable. It was the word that described my very soul, lost in some dark shattered place. I was all alone in my suffering when everyone was waiting to me to step outside my own self loathing and return to them. Gackt, with his simple words in Japanese, ripe with longing and sentiment, broke me out of a depression that could have easily claimed my life forever and looked ready to. I took in that sensation I felt course through my body, that chilly fingers down the spine, the fuzzy electrical shock through my spirit. Deep in the core of it’s essence that’s the fundamental nature of music, a tool to help us see past our own blinded soul and into a world where our eyes burn with consciousness and revelation. Peer past the gossamer webs that bind us to our selfishness and shortsightedness. Crack down the windows, turn up that radio, strum that guitar and rub your fingers lovingly over those ivory keys. Spread the word, carry extra copies of your favorite song or artist next t you when you go for a drive. Be ready for someone to reach out with questing minds and ask for you to point to them where the path begins. Be gracious my darlings, and remember it is all in charity you open the blind man’s eyes to the world he never knew. Give us music because it is our liberty, lest we are given death before we know what sweet bliss there is for us. Sweet, sweet Vanilla….I gave my love to you. Your Voodoo doll, Mysse

Japan-o-Vasion

First Edition- Japan For Sale!

Ah the mall, America’s home away from home. Everything seems familiar and friendly at the mall. No matter if it’s Rhode Island or Alaska, the same stores, the same names, the same great prices…hey I paid 30 dollars for that shirt! What do you mean they have it half off here?! Anyways a new commodity has appeared in our happy money munching malls. Japan. Straight up people you can buy Japan at your local shopping hubs. Personally I am from Erie Pennsylvania. I live only moments from my local mall, called the Millcreek Mall and wonder at how we can even call it a mall when we don’t even have a food court. Ponder that one awhile! But as I cruise my showcase lined boulevards of commerce I notice a new trend. Trigun and Inuyasha at Hot Topic, Pokemon and Duel Masters at KB Toys, Cowboy Bebop, Sailor Moon, Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and more manga then you can shake a stick at has somehow managed to integrate itself into our favorite pastime of shopping! My head spins at the possibilities and I love it! The game stores are crowded with fan boys (and girls! I like video games as much as the next button punching player! Girls can play video games too!!) sporting DBZ and Cowboy Bebop tees while waving about their newest copy of Final Fantasy (add in your favorite number here….isn’t it suppose to be the final fantasy, not the franchise fantasy?) In my local bookstores there’s Anime Club, discussions, and even manga dates. Yes people my friend met her boyfriend at the manga section of our local Media Play and some of their dates do consist of manga shopping. And even our punks, yes are beautiful spiky haired black clad punks and Goths, are sucked in to the maelstrom of the Japan Invasion. I look around Hot Topic and watch the very punk rock manager squeeze and cuddle an Inuyasha plushy while one of her employees folds a Trigun tee. I even fell in love with a baby blue Inuyasha tee and bought it on the spot. I drooled over the Inuyasha patches and key chains, cried when I couldn’t afford the Sesshomaru action figure (oh my beautiful Fluffy-kun!). I wander into Waldens books and find my fellow otaku wander among the five bookcase of manga. We strike up conversations, exchange e-mails, show each other our anime bling (my happens to be a human form Inuyasha key chain) and then one asks me what I have playing on my CD player. I smile brightly and chirp “Gackt of course!” I lent them my headphones and they bobbed their head grooving out with Gackt. One boy even asks me if I can tell him where to find more Jpop and Jrock music. Another fan is born. Anime’s theme songs are just as big a buy as the anime itself, making it an influential element to the packaging equation. It’s a wonderful feeling to see this new tide of integration in our society, even if it is at a base market level but that’s still amazing. Look around the world with burning, wide eyes and you’ll see Japan for sale all around yourself. In art, entertainment, architecture, business, and all aspects of life that we wouldn’t even recognize. Finally, after years of imperialism isn’t it nice to see another exquisite culture being accepted with open arms? Look around lovelies, enjoy your little taste of Tokyo in your favorite shopping mall and bookstore. Until later, your favorite Voodoo doll, Mysse.

The Bench effort 

Asleep at the piano...pesky key marks! 

The Effects of Gacktism

The Effects of Gacktism
The square outside Yokohama Arena is packed as wave after wave of excitement washes over the crowd like the late afternoon sun. Men and women of all races and ages mill about, chatting and laughing in multitudes of languages. Some people have traveled half way around the globe to be there while others have saved up all year just to buy a single ticket. What could draw so many people to one place and then whip them into frenzy with a single name? Camui Gackt (pronounced Gakuto). Today is Gackt’s final concert of his Sixth Day-Seventh Night tour, and it also happens to be his birthday as well. The fact that it is Gackt’s birthday only seems to stoke the excitement to a feverish pitch. As one observes the crowd, he must begin to wonder why Gackt’s fans, whom the artist calls his “Dears”, have such great love and respect for the man. Some have even gone as far as to dress up like Gackt for the concert. How could this single man have influenced these people and Japanese society so greatly? But to truly grasp how Camui Gackt’s influences have spread throughout many aspects of Japanese culture, one must know who Camui Gackt is. Camui Gackt is a vocalist, perhaps the most famous vocalist in Japan today, and a composer. Gackt writes, composes, and produces all his own music. He is also a talent musician having learned to play the violin, trumpet, tuba, drums, bass, guitar, and many other instruments but his masterful piano skills are his most showcased of instrumental talents. Camui started out humbly working as a drum technician at a studio before he started his own band, Cains:Feel, but the band broke apart when Gackt felt that his deep voice wasn’t appropriate for the musical trends of the time. Then in October of 1995 he joined the Goth rock band Malice Mizer and skyrocketed to fame. At the height of Malice Mizer’s success, Gackt announced he was leaving the band, and with him went a large amount of Malice Mizer’s fan base. The band disbanded two years later. Gackt’s departure from Malice Mizer was unexpected, but with his 1999 release of his first solo project Mizerable, Camui Gackt was spring boarded into superstardom. He has gone on to appear in many commercials, TV dramas, and the movie Moon Child, which he co-wrote the script for. As well, Gackt has released seven albums to date, a video game, and has even started voice acting in various animes (Encyclopedia:Gackt). Camui Gackt’s success can be seen throughout Japan and even various parts of Asia, which makes it easy to see that Gackt is influencing Japanese society, but how? Camui Gackt has influenced Japanese culture by tearing down international and Japanese stereotypes, ambitiously striving to redirect the lives of others, and attempting to create an Asian Union.

Camui Gackt defies Japanese stereotypes and worldwide stereotypes of Japanese men and fashion. With Gackt’s prominence in Japanese media, it is not hard for an observer to see the man’s ever-changing appearance and blue colored contacts and think that his is emulating a “white” or “western” fashion trends. In truth Gackt is not emulating western fashion or Japanese fashion. Camui’s constantly morphing appearance is not an emulation of white-western fashion but purely based upon Japan’s own popular media figures found in anime and video games. Not only has Gackt been modeled as the main character for the video game Bujingai, but also he has even been linked to being the model for Squall Leonhart from Final Fantasy 8. As well, he has also patterned himself after the popular comic book character Ruroni Kenshin on various occasions. Laura Miller of Loyola University writes, My suspicion is that they are not looking to Hollywood or Madison Avenue when they change their appearance, but are drawing on Japanese fashion and media for their inspiration. Perhaps sources for their altered looks are the characters found in Japanese comic books, anime and computer games. Indeed, fans of Gackt love to hunt for his look-alikes in domestically produced media (Miller 21) Miller’s observations prove that Gackt is not conforming himself to Western/White ideals, but drawing his models from the unique Japanese art forms found in manga and anime.

As well as a nonconformist to Western beauty principles, Gackt is not the stereotypical Japanese male either. The international view of the common Japanese man is a homogeneous black haired, browned eyed man of short stature in a business suite. In a rebellion to this stereotype, a new fashion has become popular with Japanese youth and Gackt has become the poster child of this movement. The movement is called “mukokuseki“, or non-nation. The trend is meant to blend aspects of Japanese culture with western fashion until the two are so intertwined they are of neither culture and have no definable nationality. Miller writes about the trend, stating, Unlike past generations, young people exuberantly combine beauty ideals from different cultures or historical periods. Japanese fashion innovations are not the emulation of any specific foreign trend, but are based on a combination or juxtaposition of items from different eras, places and cultures. This practice even has a name: mukokuseki, lacking nationality. The aim of the mukokuseki style is not to look Western, or Japanese, but rather like something that cannot be categorized. (Miller 21). Gackt and several other Japanese singers have adopted this trend and have become spokespeople for the movement due to their popularity and wide range of visual attention. This navigability has also gained Gackt support for the movement in the States. Mary Meehan of the Knight Rider Newspapers wrote in her article entitled “American Teens Latch On to Japanese Pop Culture” It is probably the first time that a large number of Americans are truly embracing cultural influences from abroad. After decades of exporting American culture all over the world, the country is now finally mature enough to welcome and accept culture that is not homegrown. After only seeing geisha and woodblock prints, culture-savvy Americans are finally seeing the value in the modern creations coming out of Japan."(Meehan). This goes to show that Camui Gackt is not emulating white society or Japanese fashion but is defying both stereotypes to create his own unique image. As Camui Gackt’s influences spread globally, he feels the need to touch the lives of others with his music. Camui Gackt is passionately driven to change the lives of all those he encounters so they will live a more fulfilled life. Gackt felt his life was irreparably changed on a visit to Madagascar one year. He was shocked to find that people in the world today could live in such poor, unhappy conditions and yet be so friendly. He wrote in his autobiography that, “Madagascar is a very poor country. There is only about 2-3 percent of the country's population which can afford education. But the people there are overflowing with smiles. At that time, I happened to think, ‘I wonder if I can smile like that.’” (Tarrant). After this moment, he decided that if such unfortunate people could change his life, then he should reach out and change other’s lives as well so everyone could be living a more fulfilled, happier life. As well, Gackt is inspired to one day buy his own island where he can build an amusement park for all the world’s children, but not in a creepy Michael Jackson sort of way. He personally feels that if he inspires the children to come to the park and understand that he is trying to give them a better life, that they will create a better future for themselves and the world. Gackt writes in his autobiography Jihaku, Even if I call to 1,000 people and only one responds, that's fine. If there is that one child who feels me calling, that child will, with his own strength, change the environment around him. My dream isn't restricted to just saying big things about giving dreams to children. It's more concrete than that. The child who wonders, ‘Why exactly were we called?’ has had his future and his possibilities opened. I want to create that opportunity. To say it straight up, it's just untimely interference. I'm someone who, from the beginning, has interfered in a lot of people's lives. I don't want people to exist in vain. I want people to live their lives to the fullest. I don't want them to throw away any possibilities they may have. (Tarrant) Since then Gackt has endeavored to show people what he feels is the correct way to live through his music. When he performs a live show, he hopes that people will see his intentions through his music and self-expressions on stage and walk away thinking of how they can affect others and help them. Gackt writes, Even though I perform lives, it's not enough to just say "I want to have a live," and "We'll have a happy live." That is something that I could do if I weren't myself. I wonder, if I wasn't me, what things would I be able to do? I think about that constantly. In order to send my feelings out, in order to live as myself, I will continue until the end to run towards the possibilities of me being a man who expresses himself. And in order to keep doing that, I will continue to keep doing what I have been doing all along. (Tarrant) He feels that once his listeners acknowledge and accept change into their lives they will live full, satisfied lives. This will in turn make them change the lives of all those they encounter, and through a “pass it on” chain of being, the entire world will change into a better, more perfect union. Another way Camui redirects others lives is he sees himself as ?Moon? to his listeners. Camui defines a “Moon” as anyone or anything that guides someone else and illuminates his or her path towards change. Camui writes in his biography on his ?Moon? theory, There are many people who do not know the meaning of their own existences. People appear who illuminate the road in front of them, and they then find the road upon which they are supposed to advance. That road might lead to their downfall. However, even if it is the path to destruction, they are still living just a little bit with their own power. They are not being revived by someone, but with their own feet, while feeling the life within them, they are struggling to live. I think that this is how all human beings should be living. I also wish that every one of you will want to be like the moons and the light of the moons in your own lives. The moon does not only shine during the nighttime. At night, if you do not create something and decide to start walking on your own, you can't be shown the way. This is because you can't see anything around you, and you're afraid of being shown what lies ahead. If you stop, that becomes your safety zone. Even so, the act of picking up one foot and taking a step forward requires an insane amount of courage. However, if you want to leave this darkness that much, it is possible for your feet to take a step onto the path illuminated by the moon. In short, the one who advances forward is, in the end, you. It is you! In the people who watch my concerts and listen to my music, it is all right if even a single person understands that. I will be happy if that person starts walking forward with his or her own courage. I am the moon. I dimly light the road, and the only thing I can do is point it out to you. But when you all take that one step forward, I will gently, quietly watch over you. (Tarrant) Just as the Moon lights our nights, a person who is a “Moon” shows us the path of change in this chaotic world, but they can only show someone the path, they cannot make the person walk the path. Gackt feels through his music he can show his fans the path and coax them towards that better life. With his abilities to subdue stereotypes and his will to change other people’s lives, Camui Gackt is set upon one globally advantageous purpose. Camui is determined to help create and promote an Asian Union for the benefit of all of Asia, and set the example of a harmonized society for the rest of the world to follow. Camui Gackt feels that Asia should not be a multitude of nations, but one cohesive ?Asian Union? due to the fact that Asians are the largest ethnic group in the world. He states that Asia should be one complete nation instead of a jigsaw of smaller countries. All he feels he needs to do is make all of Asia aware of their brotherhood so all of Asia can unite as one peaceful nation. Camui Gackt supports his push for this Asian Union but living his life by his theories. Camui wrote in his autobiography, To me, Asia isn't a place for me to promote myself. Asia is my country, the place where I come from, my hometown. I have always wanted to come to the point where I could feel “I am Asian.” Through my music, through my movie, I want to make people conscious of the thought of an Asian brotherhood. I want to feel that people are not just Japanese, Chinese, Korean, but have a brotherhood among them as all being Asian. I want my life to bring people closer to this realization. One Asian people. The pivotal point is the people of Asia having this revolution of thought together. (Tarrant) When asked what he is, he does not reply, “I am Japanese” Or “I am Chinese” but instead tells people that he is Asian. He does not look at Asia and see a wide fan base or a someplace to promote his newest album but his home and the homes of his Asian brothers. This shows that Camui doesn’t fight for record sales, but to create a peaceful, untied Asia by accepting that all Asians are uniquely linked by they’re ethnicity. He feels through his music, his very lifestyle, and additional works that he can create a revolution of thought amongst all Asians. After he has created this new way of thinking, all the pieces will fall together and all of Asia will untied into one perfect union, Camui’s ideal “Asian Union“. Camui Gackt states, But even if the country is formed into a single entity and bound together by friendly relations, it means nothing if the people don't feel it. If the people of that country individually could have the walls before their eyes torn down, becoming closer to one another, if they could feel their same customs together, then the country's policies would advance, wouldn't they? I want it to become like this. Doesn't that sound interesting? One musician, finally tying country by country together, taking them to one place. I am only a musician. But nevertheless I am a musician. That is the possibility that I have as a person of expression. (Tarrant) This shows Gackt’s eagerness and longing to help create an Asian Union by using his musical influences and popularity. In conclusion, as one deliberates over the matter of Camui Gackt being a free thinking artist or a carbon copy pop star, one cannot dispute the facts that he has greatly altered the Japanese society. He has created perhaps a better Japan by his refusal to submit to stereotypes, his passion in trying to create a better life for himself and others, and his mission of founding a unified Asia.

My First Blog....how cheesy is this??!!!

So this is my first blog ever. Well I kinda feel like a reject now! Anyways, I guess I'll throw out the basics just to get a start. My name is Mysse, and that's pronounced "Missy" but I'm special ed so I spell it like my heads been bounced off one to many curbs. I'm currently 18 years old and single. I like my computer but he's dating my printer so...I'm heartbroken. I like to draw, usually anime and manga but I'm working on a scrap book of the human form. I love to read mostly Christopher Rice and Anne Rice but right now I'm reading Silence of the Lambs. I sing, a lot, and I'm trying to get discovered and sing my own songs I've written. I write lyrics for songs, like so meantioned, and I'm writing a couple of novelettes and a books of poetry called Love Letters to No One. Keep an eye for it. I love listening to music bu I mostly listen to Japanese music. I love J-Rock. My favorite singers/bands are GACKT!!!, Hyde, Dir en Grey, Malice Mizer, L'arc-en-ciel, MIYAVI!!!, Pierrot, ect... Oh yah, my favorite color is aqua (can yah tell?). I guess i wanted to try this whole blog thing to get out there and say something (though this hasn't said much has it?) and I wanted to meet new people and see what they had to say. So say something already!!!