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J-rocker Gackt further proves his coolness with surprise performance at middle school graduation

Casey Baseel Mar 22, 2017
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In what’s become an annual tradition, the star musician gave a group of teens the surprise of their young lives.

If fans were going to pick a single word to describe Japanese rock star Gackt, most would go with “cool.” After all, the 43-year-old musician radiates an aura of highly developed style, articulate confidence, and physical prowess.

But earlier this week, Gackt proved himself to be a cool guy in an entirely different sense, by showing his kind generosity as he made a surprise appearance at the graduation ceremony for Nakazato Nishi Middle School in Shizuoka Prefecture.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BR0Vs3yF32c/

During the ceremony on March 19, the famed J-rocker strode up to the stage and offered his congratulations to the class of 2017.

三島市立中郷西中学校ブログを更新されました。/ Nakazatonishi junior high school in Mishima City blog updated
① https://t.co/5SgMiPh9vv #GACKT #シークレットライブ #卒業式 pic.twitter.com/Mc7VLYtnDo

— OGYD (@ohgacktyoudidnt) March 18, 2017

三島市立中郷西中学校ブログを更新されました。/ Nakazatonishi junior high school in Mishima City blog updated
③ https://t.co/z7rGMEDjQg #GACKT #シークレットライブ #卒業式 pic.twitter.com/JkO7J73Dv5

— OGYD (@ohgacktyoudidnt) March 18, 2017

“A dream isn’t just something you have,” he reminded the assembled teens. “It’s something you make come true, and to do that, you have to be strong and keep believing.”

【ニコ生 GACKT卒業式サプライズLIVE 2017】 in 三島市立中郷西中学校密着完全版放送が決定！(2017/03/26/21時開始) https://t.co/bKFmtaXotq #GACKT pic.twitter.com/QT34WGfhhy

— DEAR LOVERS (@GACKTunofficial) March 19, 2017

▼ He may spend more time in luxurious backstage accommodations, but Gackt looks plenty comfortable relaxing in a back room of Nakazato Nishi Middle School.

★GACKTさん登場！今年は静岡の中学校に降臨！★
【ニコ生】 GACKTシークレットLIVE～日本のどこかから密着生放送2017～ https://t.co/XEGPyJBb1x #GACKT #シークレット pic.twitter.com/C2jGlu178w

— DEAR LOVERS (@GACKTunofficial) March 18, 2017

鳴門市第一中学校の卒業式にGACKT来た！ヤバいw本物だw https://t.co/84msb6W6H9

— ちさき (@Bill5529) March 17, 2017

Gackt also posed for celebratory snapshots with the graduates, but not before singing his 2007 hit “No ni Saku Haha no You ni” (“Like Flowers Blooming in a Field”).

#GACKT が #静岡県の中学校の #卒業式で #サプライズライブを敢行!! タイムシフトで4/18まで視聴出来ます♪
ニコニコ生放送「GACKTシークレットLIVE～日本のどこかから密着生放送2017～」https://t.co/aNcBWzvRUI pic.twitter.com/o1KW3sE43b

— ニコびじゅ (@nico_visual) March 18, 2017

▼ Music video for “No ni Saku Haha no You ni”

Gackt originally wrote this song after receiving a letter from a high school student in Hyogo Prefecture who was worried about his school’s department being shut down due to a lack of interested students. The division pulled through, though, and to honor the determination that led to its survival, Gackt penned the song and performed it at that year’s graduation ceremony.

▼ Gackt performing at another graduation ceremony in 2015

Gackt has since made a habit of suddenly showing up at one graduation each spring to serenade the graduating class. With no apparent ties to Nakazato Nishi Middle School, this year’s school seems to have been selected at random. That just adds to the surprise and mystery, so if you happen to find yourself at a Japanese graduation ceremony next year, keep your eyes peeled for a mysterious, sunglass-sporting stranger swaggering in half-way through.

Source: IT Media, Twitter/@ohgacktyoudidnt

Follow Casey on Twitter, where he wishes he’d taken more pictures at his high school graduation.