GACKT is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and multi-instrumentalist born Gakuto Oshiro (大城 ガクト) on July 4, 1973, in Okinawa, Japan. He first gained broad attention as the vocalist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer from 1995 to 1999, where his baritone vocals and theatrical image became part of the band's identity during the genre's peak years. After leaving the group, he launched a solo career with the EP Mizérable, releasing music through Avex Group and building a style that mixes hard rock, orchestral arrangements, pop, and J-pop with the visual sensibility of theatrical rock.
His solo catalog includes songs such as Another World, Vanilla, and Returner ~Yami no Shuuen~, the last of which became his first solo single to reach No. 1 on the Oricon charts. A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, guitar, and violin, and his live shows are known for their cinematic staging, careful performance detail, and strict self-discipline. He has also formed the supergroup S.K.I.N. with Yoshiki, Sugizo, and Miyavi, and he served as the vocal source for the Vocaloid Gackpoid.
Outside music, GACKT co-wrote and starred in Moon Child (2003), portrayed Uesugi Kenshin in the NHK Taiga drama Fuurin Kazan (2007), and provided voice work for Genesis Rhapsodos in Final Fantasy VII and for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. He has also appeared in the Fly Me to the Saitama film series, remained active as a frequent television judge, and after a health-related hiatus in 2021 returned to work across music, film, and television. His career has also extended into fashion, business, and philanthropy.
