[DISCUSSION] Gackt on 'Terry Ito's Howl at the Moon' w/English subs

[mun_chairudo]

Just found this on YT & haven't watched it, yet, but would like to share it nonetheless.
Since I don't know Japanese, I can't say how accurate the videos are. I'll probably comment on itself after having watched it in the comments...
Enjoy ^^

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Sauce: kkuwa13 | Video 1 | Video 2

Comments

[nagaokagetora]

Thanks a lot for posting this! Just watched the first vid, it's very interesting what he says about kids nowadays who aren't confronted that much with the outside world anymore like it used to be years ago. It's very true. When I compare my childhood with those of the children I see around me nowadays it really changed a lot. I think part of it comes from that parents are more scared about their children's safety nowadays. I would really have to think about the right age to let my children go out alone to Arcade centers or whatever. While it could be a challenge for them I wouldn't want them to put in any danger. There are some VERY suspicious people hanging around in some places... But I absolutely get what he says, it's only difficult to find safe enough places that are still a challenge for them ;). It very much depends where you live I guess.

[mun_chairudo]

Oh G. So flattering that you are taking the blame on behalf of your gender for the misery between men and women in here.

I can agree a lot with what he's trying to bring across. From the importance of doing things physically and going out in real life to his thoughts on aging - and the beauty of it to the topic on men and women. I'm sure he's aware of exceptions, so I'm not bothered by the fact that he's generalizing in here a lot.

Now my heart's aching because of many things.
This is terrible~ haha..

[bliss10]

Well in the end he said that men were "brats" and that women are the ones who are really in control.

[nagaokagetora]

Very good part two as well. I will never understand the Japanese protection concept (3 steps ahead walking) so I'll skip that ;). But in here I hear him the first time talking about protecting EACH OTHER, taking EACH OTHER's advice and I get he doesn't see the him leading thing as radical as it sounds sometimes. I can also wholeheartedly agree to the whole marriage panic thing. And that being trusted has a very high value for him, it's not that he wants the girl to say "yes" without asking because he is the "boss", I think the trust in him is the point here.
Thanks again for posting, very good and insightful interview.

[mun_chairudo]

I like to think like this -

If you walk three steps behind or ahead, the point is that, if you both turn around, the one that was walking behind you becomes the one walking in front of you, just facing into a different direction.
So walking in front or walking behind says nothing about the amount of say you have, but more like, the amount of say depending on the situation.

[nagaokagetora]

I think it's always safest to walk side by side ;). I think it's less likely that people attack me when my man is right beside me and IF - he's right there :). When I walk behind someone someone could attack me from behind, right? See, I just find this picture unfortunate. I also believe in "together we're strong" and the picture that comes to my mind is a couple walking side by side with no distance between them. That's why I say I'll never get this picture ;). I understand what he is trying to say, but when I think about it literally, no thanks ;). And besides, how do you hold hands like that, where's the love ;)?

[angel_9_lives]

...I LOVE the way you phrased this, jsyk ♥

~Angel

[marlene_novalis]

I totally love this "they (women) make us (men) walk three steps ahead". The president-comparison is also really amazing.

And it's not a japanese / Gackt-thing only. Just remember all the legends about knights in medieval Europe. They are nothing but Western samurais.

And is there any woman who hasn't imagine the beautiful knight on the white horse loving and protecting her? It's archetypical!

I'm so happy to say that I found such a man in MY partner.

I hope I make sense XD

[mun_chairudo]

And it's not a japanese / Gackt-thing only. Just remember all the legends about knights in medieval Europe. They are nothing but Western samurais.

I think I know what you mean and I agree with you here. I like to think that he doesn't mean to say it's a thing you can only find in Japan, though. When he says it's sth unique to Japan, I think he merely wants to express that it's something natural in Japanese culture.

It's just the same as if you were saying independant women who stand up for themselves are something unique to America... You can find them anywhere in the world, but it's such a great part of what America is that it's like.. a trademark. Of course a lot of it is rooted in history.. since I know you are a history teacher, I bet you know what I mean. ^^

[bliss10]

Yes to the reality of "chivalry" by any name, be it from European or Japanese cultures!

What GACKT is doing now with this samurai spirit and the three steps behind, is romanticizing. I've done it for years with knights in shining armor. I have no problem with pushing the idea of what it was meant to be (men protecting their loved ones) as long as there is a healthy understanding of what it ended up being, weak people bastardizing tradition to glorify themselves and repress others.

I think he gets that since he keeps saying that men need to be stronger. I think he also gets that in the meantime, when men are mulling over their roll in the changing times, that women will continue to do what they need to do.

I'm waiting for that strong man. *taps foot* In the meantime I have to take care of myself. I can't step back just to make a man feel stronger, he just has to be stronger.

[mun_chairudo]

I think it's utterly possible for G to agree that woman rights are a good thing, but still think that it's a shame it had to come so far as to woman feeling the need to fight for rights in order to feel safe and protected.