Japanese visual kei icon GACKT has been rocking the entertainment world for over 30 years. Beyond his legendary status as a singer, songwriter, and composer, he's also a prolific actor, variety show staple, and fashion trendsetter, maintaining massive popularity to this day.
Recently, GACKT announced the launch of his personally curated "GACKT Extreme Series" bento boxes. He claims to have been underwhelmed by countless commercially available bento, leading him to create an "emotionally stirring bento" himself. However, the news immediately blew up on X (formerly Twitter), with many netizens firing back: "Don't you not eat white rice?!" leaving many to question the whole point of the venture.
GACKT posted that he was disappointed by many existing bento options and wanted to challenge himself: "How good can it be if I go all out?" He personally oversaw ingredient selection, cooking temperatures, and flavor profiles.
He emphasized that these bento aren't just about filling your stomach; they're designed to evoke an "emotional surge" the moment you take a bite. The bento will be available for a limited run from December 9 to 22, 2025, at Perie Nishifunabashi inside JR Nishi-Funabashi Station.
From the look of the dishes, they certainly stand out from your average bento, boasting premium ingredients and elegant wooden packaging. The "GACKT Extreme Series" is actually his personal brand, which previously focused on seafood and has an official website.
After the bento announcement went live, the most common question in the comments section revolved around GACKT's past public statements about "not eating white rice." Many netizens questioned how he could possibly judge the balance between rice and side dishes. Comments included: "Aren't you the guy who doesn't eat rice?" "How can someone who doesn't eat rice know how to pair it with dishes?" "Did you even taste the rice?" and "Did you forget your own 'no rice' rule?"
Some even pointed out: "Bento boxes are designed to make eating rice easier. How can someone who doesn't eat rice even evaluate a bento?"
(Note: As recently as 2023, GACKT discussed on a variety show, "I stopped eating white rice when I was 26...")
Beyond the rice controversy, some food-savvy netizens also challenged GACKT's "ultimate bento" concept: "Bento should be something that can be eaten cold, stored, and enjoyed by anyone. Stuffing expensive ingredients into a bento box isn't the point." "It's normal for high-end ingredients to make delicious food; the real skill is making something tasty within a budget." "Saying existing bento aren't good enough, then comparing them to a high-priced bento, isn't fair."
Despite the significant debate, some believe GACKT's foray into the high-end bento market is a clever marketing move: "Celebrity-produced, limited-time items are always buzzworthy." "If the price is right, I'd still want to try it."
The official price for the bento has yet to be announced. Perhaps once Japanese fans actually get their hands on one, we'll finally see what the "GACKT Extreme Series" ultimate bento is truly all about.
via： togetter