Yoshiki (musician)

Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki, born November 20, 1965) known by the mononym Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the leader and a co-founder of the visual kei rock band X Japan, for which he is the drummer, pianist and main songwriter.[5] Described by Billboard as a "musical innovator"[6] and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence of Sound,[7] Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson, St. Vincent, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and KISS, Nicole Scherzinger, and Sarah Brightman.

Yoshiki
林 佳樹
Yoshiki in 2016
Born
Yoshiki Hayashi

(1965-11-20) November 20, 1965
Tateyama, Chiba, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other names
  • Hitomi Shiratori (白鳥瞳)
  • Rei Shiratori (白鳥麗)
  • Ryū Shiratori (白鳥龍)
  • Miyuki Igarashi (五十嵐美由姫)
  • Tomomi Tachibana (橘朋実)
  • Ruka Tachibana (立花香流)[1]
Occupation
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
  • fashion designer
  • philanthropist
Years active1982–present
AgentWilliam Morris Endeavor[2]
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsDrums, piano
Labels
Associated acts
Japanese name
Kanji林 佳樹
Hiraganaはやし よしき
Websitewww.yoshiki.net

In 1999, at the request of the Japanese government, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards[8][9] as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV.

Life and career

1965–1982: Early years and Dynamite/Noise

Yoshiki was born on November 20, 1965 in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, as the elder of two brothers in a musically oriented family. His father was a tap dancer and jazz pianist, his mother played the shamisen, while his aunt played the koto.[10] He began taking piano lessons and music theory at age four.[11] He then became interested in classical works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert.[11] In elementary school, he played the trumpet in the brass band, and around age ten started composing songs for piano.[11] This period was a decisive point in his life. He was 10 years old when his father committed suicide; he found relief in rock music.[12][13] After discovering the music of American hard rock band Kiss, he started learning to play drums and guitar. Yoshiki was also influenced by works from Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Queen, The Beatles, Charged GBH and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.[14] Soon with his childhood friend Toshi formed a band called Dynamite in 1977. Dynamite changed its name to Noise a year later.

1982–1997: X Japan
Main article: X Japan

When Noise disbanded in 1982, Yoshiki and Toshi formed a new band, which they named X while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck. In 1986, Yoshiki founded his own independent record label, Extasy Records, in order to distribute the band's music.[15] On December 26, 1987, the band participated in an audition held by CBS/Sony which led to a recording contract in August of the following year. The band's breakthrough came in 1989 with the release of their second, and major debut, album Blue Blood, which reached number six on the Oricon chart and charted for more than 100 weeks.[16][17] In 1990, the band received the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th Japan Gold Disc Awards.[18] In 1991 they released their hit million-selling album Jealousy, and were the first Japanese metal band to perform in Japan's largest indoor concert venue, the Tokyo Dome. The following year they announced the renaming of the band to X Japan in order to launch an international career with an American album release, however, this ultimately did not happen.

1991–1999: Solo work and Eternal Melody

That same year he began his first solo activities outside X. Collaborating with Tetsuya Komuro for the rock unit V2, with a concert on December 5 at the Tokyo Bay NK Hall[19][20] and the single "Haitoku no Hitomi ~Eyes of Venus~/Virginity" (背徳の瞳〜Eyes of Venus〜) in January 1992, which reached number two on the chart.[21] On December 12, Yoshiki released his first album, the classical compilation Yoshiki Selection,[22] which includes classical works, and its sequel followed six years later.

In 1992, he bought a recording studio complex in North Hollywood, California, US. Extasy Recording Studios would become where recordings for nearly all his projects take place, until he sold it in the 2010s.[23][24] In the early 1990s through his record label would debut million-selling bands Glay and Luna Sea. He began learning about jazz improvisation and orchestration.[11]

On April 21, 1993 he released his first original solo album, the classical studio album Eternal Melody, which was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and produced by the Beatles producer George Martin.[25] Besides including orchestral arrangements of X Japan songs, it contained two new songs as well. The album reached number 6 on the charts.[26] On November 3, the singles "Amethyst" and "Ima wo Dakishimete" (今を抱きしめて) were released and reached number five and three respectively on the charts.[27] The later single was a karaoke adaptation of the second orchestral song from the first single, but name credit went to TBS as it was the theme song to one of their dramas, recorded by the lead actors under the group name NOA.[28][29] In 1994, it was the 35th annual best-selling single and won the "Excellence award" at the 36th Japan Record Awards.[30]

In 1994, Yoshiki worked with Queen drummer Roger Taylor on a song he composed, "Foreign Sand", for which Roger wrote the lyrics. They performed the song at The Great Music Experience event in May,[31] partly backed by Unesco, which featured many other Japanese and Western musicians. The single was released in June, and reached the top fifteen in Japan, and 26th in the UK.[32] That same month, the Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass was released, for which Yoshiki contributed an orchestral arrangement of "Black Diamond" played by the American Symphony Orchestra.[33][34]

With X Japan's popularity increasing, Yoshiki and the band collaborated with Mugen Motorsports and sponsored racer Katsumi Yamamoto, who drove for team "X Japan Racing" in the 1995 season of Formula Nippon.[35] In the 1996 season, they sponsored Ralf Schumacher with both him and the team winning the championship.[36] In 1997, Toshi decided to leave the band, claiming the success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally. The band's dissolution was officially announced in September 1997.[37] X Japan performed their farewell show at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997, making it the last of five consecutive New Year's Eve shows in that stadium.[37] Soon afterwards, in May 1998, the band's lead guitarist Hide died, and Yoshiki withdrew from the public scene, as he was battling suicidal thoughts and eventually sought the help of a psychiatrist.[38]

Yoshiki remained active as a producer for bands such as Dir En Grey,[24] and contributed a cover song for the 1999 Hide tribute album, Tribute Spirits. On November 12, at the Tokyo Imperial Palace a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperors Akihito enthronement was held and at the request of the Japanese government, Yoshiki composed and performed the song "Anniversary".[39][40]

2000–2009: Eternal Melody II, Violet UK and S.K.I.N.

In the beginning of the 21st century, he expanded his record label with sub-divisions, Extasy Japan and Extasy International in collaboration with Warner Music,[41] and produced several artists. In 2000, he collaborated with 7-Eleven on a series of TV commercials, for which he provided the songs "Blind Dance" and "The Other Side" by his solo musical project Violet UK.[42] Two years prior, he contributed the song "Sane" for the 1998 film In God's Hands.[43][44] The project idea was born in 1991,[45] when Yoshiki was recording in his studio, initially doing sessions with Mick Karn and Jane Child, but it was postponed. The music involves a fusion of trip rock, breakbeat, and classical piano strings.

In September 2002, he joined the dance-oriented pop group led by Tetsuya Komuro, Globe.[46] Though his only contribution was the single "Seize the Light" and, after recording an album, they went on hiatus with Yoshiki not rejoining them afterwards. On December 3 and 4, he held symphonic concerts with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, at Tokyo International Forum.[47] They performed older orchestral arrangements and songs created for Violet UK, featuring female singers Daughter and Nicole Scherzinger, with Nicole singing "I'll Be Your Love". That same song was released the following year as the debut single for Dahlia, an American-Japanese female singer, and later used as the official theme song of the world's fair, Expo 2005.[48][49]

In 2003 and 2004, he provided the theme songs "Kimi Dake Dakara" and "Sekai no Owari no Yoru ni" for NHK's 50th anniversary commemorative broadcast and the 90th anniversary of Takarazuka Revue.[50][51] In 2004, he helped produce the South Korean rock band The TRAX.[52][53] In 2005, a second classical solo album titled Eternal Melody II was released on March 23.[54][55] The next day, Yoshiki conducted the Super World Orchestra in the opening ceremony of the World's Fair in the performance of a classical version of "I'll Be Your Love."[56] At the end of the same month, a DVD recording of his previous symphonic concert was released.[55] In December, the Violet UK song "Sex and Religion" was released via the iTunes Store,[57] and soon afterwards "Mary Mona Lisa" unofficially via Myspace.[58]

Yoshiki at Otakon in 2006.

In 2006, Yoshiki appeared at the Otakon convention on August 6, where it was publicly announced that he would be forming a band named S.K.I.N. with rock singer Gackt, soon afterwards they were joined by Sugizo.[59] At the JRock Revolution Festival on May 25, 2007, which was organized by Yoshiki, it was announced that Miyavi was joining.[60] There were high expectations for the band, like to be the first Asian band to conquer the world charts, beginning with America,[61] and to lead a rock revolution and starting a new era of rock and roll, by opening the market for Japanese in the Western music industry.[62] But after their debut performance on June 29, 2007, at the Anime Expo in Long Beach, all activities were stopped.[63][64][65]

Yoshiki at his drum kit during a 2011 X Japan concert in São Paulo, after the band's reunion in 2007.

That same year he co-produced the soundtrack for the 2007 film Catacombs, which included the Violet UK song "Blue Butterfly" and was released by his Extasy Records International.[66][67] On October 22, 2007, X Japan's living members reunited and appeared together for the first time in over 10 years at a public filming of the promotion video for their new single "I.V.", which was created for the American horror movie Saw IV and played during the end credits but was not included on the soundtrack album.[68][69][70] On September 20, 2007, at a Catacombs preview in Japan, it was announced that Yoshiki would be producing the 2008 rock musical Repo! The Genetic Opera and its soundtrack, along with composing one extra track for it.[71][72] In 2009, he contributed the theme song "Blue Sky Heaven" for the 30th anniversary of a Nippon Television program,[73] and for the Japanese historical fantasy film Goemon he wrote the Violet UK song "Rosa", which was released on April 29 via iTunes.[74] That year he again collaborated with Mugen Motorsports and racing car constructor Dome for the Super GT series championship.[75] In July 2009, he had to undergo surgery for a slipped disc in his neck, and was told by doctors to refrain from heavy drumming.[76] His neck is so severely damaged that Yoshiki's management has said that it, "would force a professional rugby player to retire."[77]

2010–2017: Solo career and Yoshiki Classical
Yoshiki performing at Japan Expo in 2010.

In 2010, Yoshiki with Toshi appeared and performed at Japan Expo in Paris on July 4.[78] In October, he fainted in his hotel room on X Japan's tour, and was subsequently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.[79][80] He teamed up with Toshi again on January 24–25, 2011, at the first expensive high-end dinner show for their project ToshI feat Yoshiki, where an orchestra was utilized and later a live album released of the show.[81][82] On March 6, Yoshiki co-organized with fashion producer Jay FR (from the fashion festival "Tokyo Girls Collection") a fashion and music event "Asia Girls Explosion" at Yoyogi National Stadium.[83][84] At the event many special guest models walked the runway, Yoshiki's own kimono line that he designed, and both X Japan and Violet UK performed.[85][86] On May 27, "Yoshiki Radio" was launched on Sirius XM's Boneyard station. The hour-long program hosted by Yoshiki, aired the first Sunday of every month at 9 p.m. ET.[87] On July 21, at San Diego Comic-Con International, Yoshiki unveiled the comic book series Blood Red Dragon, which was created in collaboration with American comic book legends Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane and stars a superhero version of himself.[88]

Yoshiki playing the piano at the Grammy Museum in 2013.

In 2012, Yoshiki composed the theme song for the 69th Golden Globe Awards,[56] and on January 15, 2013, the theme was officially released through iTunes in 111 countries, with all proceeds being donated to charities chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.[89] A wax figure of Yoshiki was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong wax museum in May 2012. In 2013, Yoshiki's figure was moved to the Tokyo location.[90][91][92] On August 27, 2013, the third classical studio album Yoshiki Classical was released.[93][94] It debuted as the #1 overall classical seller in Japan, and the #2 in the United States iTunes Store chart.[95] In celebration of its release, a special live performance was held at the Grammy Museum.[96][97][98]

On March 14, 2014, at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, Yoshiki performed a duet piano piece during his concert at the Qui Restaurant; one part played by him, and the other played by a hologram of himself.[99] On April 25, Yoshiki started his first classical world tour in Costa Mesa, California, and continued throughout the world, visiting San Francisco, Mexico City, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Osaka.[100][101][102] The tour setup featured Yoshiki on piano, several strings as cellos and viola, and vocalist Katie Fitzgerald from Violet UK.[103] Performances included classical versions of songs he composed, as well depending on the venue, some famous composers like Tchaikovsky.[103] For an upcoming Japanese 3D CG animated film Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary, Yoshiki contributed theme song "Hero" and it was unveiled on the tour.[104] In October 2014, Yoshiki performed a concert at Madison Square Garden with X Japan. It was the group's largest U.S. headlining performance.[105][106][107] In November 2014, Yoshiki debuted the official Hello Kitty theme song, "Hello Hello", at the first Hello Kitty Con.[108] He was the guest of honor at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo.[109]

Yoshiki performing in London at the Hyper Japan Festival, 2015.

In April 2015, Yoshiki was a guest speaker and performer at the New Economy Summit (NES).[110] In July, he performed at the Hyper Japan Festival in London, together with Toshi.[111] Yoshiki performed with a string quartet at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. The We Are X film, a documentary on X Japan and Yoshiki, premiered at Sundance[112] and was selected for the World Cinema Documentary Competition.[113] In November 2016, he won the Asian Icon Award at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards in Tokyo.[114][115] In 2016, he embarked on another classical world tour, with performances in Tokyo and Osaka,[116] and a Hong Kong show that had to be cancelled due to the promoter's mistake and rescheduled as a free concert on December 30.[117]

Yoshiki's second solo classical tour commenced in Osaka Castle Hall on December 5, 2016 with three days at the Tokyo International Forum on December 6, 7 and 8, a performance at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo scheduled for December 29 and Carnegie Hall, New York on Jan 12 and 13. The Carnegie Hall performances included the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The Tokyo concerts in December were an acclaimed success[118] but the Hong Kong Concert on December 29 had to be canceled two hours before the show.[119] The cancellation was due to an oversight by the promoter in applying for the entertainment license necessary to perform the show.[120] However the date was fulfilled on the following day, December 30, by Yoshiki performing for free with ticket holders being refunded, the first time ever for a major music artist to do such a thing in Hong Kong.[121] The concerts in Carnegie Hall on January 12 and 13 were successful sellout shows. Yoshiki also included in the show a surprise performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" after a heartfelt speech about his personal pursuit of the American Dream.[122]

2017–present: Neck surgery, "Red Swan" and "Miracle"

In January 2017, Yoshiki performed two sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York.[123] In March 2017, Yoshiki performed with a 4-piece string quartet at Hong Kong's Asia Film Awards. In April 2017, Yoshiki debuted a special collaboration T-shirt with rock group KISS titled "YOSHIKISS".[124] During these performances, he lost sensation in his left hand and was rediagnosed with cervical foraminal stenosis. In May 2017, it was announced that Yoshiki would undergo emergency cervical artificial disc replacement surgery in Los Angeles on May 16, resulting in the cancelling of his schedule for May, and future events being possibly cancelled or rescheduled based on discussions after his surgery.[77][125][126] The surgery was successful, with his surgical wound expected to take six weeks to heal, and for him to make a 90% recovery in six months. However, the recovery period for the pain in his hand is unknown.[127]

In July 2017, Yoshiki performed six concerts with X Japan. He also performed a series of seven Evening with Yoshiki dinner shows in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.[128] In October 2017, Yoshiki completed a 10-country tour of Europe promoting the X Japan documentary We Are X.[129]

In 2018, Yoshiki released the song "Red Swan" featuring Hyde, as the opening theme of the third season of the Attack on Titan anime, reaching #1 on the iTunes rock charts in 10 countries.[130][131][132] In September, it was announced that Yoshiki would feature on Sarah Brightman's album Hymn, with a newly recorded version of his composition "Miracle".[133] The digital single version of "Miracle" hit the top 10 on classical charts in 15 countries, and Yoshiki was announced as a guest performer on Sarah Brightman's Hymn World Tour in 2019 in selected cities in the US and Japan.[134] On New Year's Eve in 2018, he performed in the traditional TV show, Kouhaku Uta Gassen, where, for the first time in the show's history, he was a member of both the Red and the White teams, teaming up with Hyde for a performance of Red Swan and then joining Brightman for Miracle.[135]

In January 2019, it was announced that Yoshiki will partner with The H Collective to compose the score and theme song for the fourth installment of Vin Diesel's xXx film series and create the theme for the animated feature film Spycies.[136][137] In February 2019, Yoshiki appeared as the featured pianist on Hyde's single "Zipang",[138][139] and in March 2019, New York-area PBS station WNET Thirteen premiered a one-hour version of his 2017 Carnegie Hall concert.[140][141] The Yoshiki: Live at Carnegie Hall special began airing on PBS stations nationwide in November.[142]

In November 2019, YouTube Originals announced the documentary series Yoshiki - Life Of A Japanese Rock Star would premiere on the streaming platform in March 2020.[143][144] In December 2019, Yoshiki appeared on stage with Kiss during their End of the Road World Tour, playing piano for "Beth" and drums for "Rock and Roll All Nite" at Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka.[145][146] They later collaborated for a televised New Year's Eve performance of "Rock and Roll All Nite" under the name "YoshiKiss" on NHK's 70th Kouhaku Uta Gassen.[147]

In January 2020, Yoshiki wrote and produced the debut song "Imitation Rain" for male vocal group SixTones, which launched at number one on the Oricon chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, and sold 1.3 million physical copies in its first week.[148][149]

In March 2020, Yoshiki collaborated with Bono, Will.i.am, and Jennifer Hudson to create "#SING4LIFE", a song written and compiled remotely by the four musicians to lift spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic.[150] In August 2020, St. Vincent and Yoshiki teamed to create a classical arrangement of her song "New York".[151] In September 2020, "Disney - My Music Story: Yoshiki" premiered on the Disney+ service in Japan, featuring Yoshiki's new arrangements of themes from Disney films The Lion King and Frozen.[152] In November 2020, Yoshiki's photobook XY with images by American photographer Melanie Pullen, placed number one in the Oricon weekly book chart.[153][154]

Yoshiki's online concert presented by YouTube Originals titled Under the Sky, with Marilyn Manson, The Chainsmokers, Nicole Scherzinger, Lindsey Stirling, the Scorpions, Hyde, Sugizo, Sarah Brightman, and the SixTones, was postponed from its December 2020 premiere due to post-production delays caused by COVID-19.[155][156] On December 31, 2020, Yoshiki performed a virtual collaboration of X Japan's song "Endless Rain" on Kouhaku Uta Gassen with Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Sarah Brightman, Babymetal, SixTones, Lisa, and Milet.[157][158]

Influences

When asked what the albums were the most influential for him, Yoshiki named Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin, Alive! by Kiss and Killers by Iron Maiden.[159] Yoshiki stated he loved "the punkish elements" of the albums by Iron Maiden[160] and that their work got him into punk rock.[161][162] He was into punk rock bands from the United Kingdom and Japan such as The Exploited, Chaos UK, Discharge, GISM, and Gauze around 1984.[161] He also cited the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and G.B.H. as his favorite bands.[160]

Yoshiki has also named Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony and Beethoven's 5th Symphony as influences.[163] His favorite classical composers also include J. S. Bach, Schoenberg, Berg,[164] Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin.[163]

He named John Bonham as his biggest drumming inspiration and cited Cozy Powell as the reason he started to play double bass drums.[165] He also likes Peter Criss,[166] Shuichi Murakami, Jun Aoyama from T-Square,[167] and Minato Masafumi from Dead End.[168] He picked George Winston, Keith Jarrett, Vladimir Horowitz, and Mishiba Satoshi from Kinniku Shōjo Tai as his favorite pianists.[11][169] The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett inspired him to learn jazz theory and improvisation.[11] He also studied jazz piano under Dick Marx and Shelly Berg.[164]

Charity work

Yoshiki started his charitable work as a result of losing his father to suicide at a young age, saying he wanted to support children who have had traumatic experiences like he did.[170][171]

In 1995, in response to the Kobe earthquake, Yoshiki held an X Japan's Christmas Eve charity concert in Osaka, and presented the certifications of new pianos to students whose schools were damaged during the earthquake.[172]

In 2009, he invited 200 young orphans to attend two X Japan's concerts in January in Hong Kong, and donated money to a charity organization for orphans.[173] On March 29 and 31, he visited a town in the province of Sichuan, China, which was devastated by the earthquake in 2008, and donated musical instruments to the schools in the area.[174] He again invited children from the local orphanages in Taipei, Taiwan, to be the special guests in the X Japans's concert on May 30.[175] In 2010, he founded Yoshiki Foundation America, a California non-profit, public benefit corporation with tax-exempt status as a section 501(c)3.[176] On July 1, the foundation hosted a free benefit fan event for charity at Club Nokia, Los Angeles. Beneficiaries included the Grammy Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.[176] In 2011, to provide aid to the victims of March 11's Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the Foundation in association with Yahoo! Japan organized the Japan Relief Fundraising Auction, and all the benefits were sent to the Japanese Red Cross.[176][177] Yoshiki auctioned one of his Kawai Crystal Grand CR-40 pianos, and with restructuring verification system by Yahoo! Auctions, because offers reached high as $20 million,[178][179] it got sold for $134,931.[180]

In 2014, Yoshiki Foundation America partnered with the MusiCares Foundation in an auction for a private dinner with Yoshiki. The auction awarded the two highest bidders each with a dinner and raised $62,000 for the Grammy Foundation and MusiCares.[181][182] In 2017, Yoshiki Foundation America donated $100,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts through the MusiCares Foundation.[183] In 2018, the YFA organization donated 10 million yen to assist victims of flooding in Japan,[184][185] and an additional 10 million yen to assist recovery from the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.[186][187]

Yoshiki cuts the ribbon outside the newly appointed "Yoshiki Dean's Suite" within the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

In April 2019, Yoshiki donated $87,900 to Korea for a forest fire accident in Gangwon-do, Korea.[188] In June 2019, Yoshiki visited the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he made a $150,000 donation and held a masterclass for students, where he advised the future musicians to "play every concert as if it is your last."[189][190] Yoshiki's efforts were recognized by the renaming of the Frost School of Music Dean's office as "Yoshiki Dean's Suite".[191] In August 2019, Yoshiki donated 10 million yen to support victims of the Kyoto Animation arson attack,[192][193] and $100,000 to the Earth Alliance Amazon Forest Fund to prevent destruction of the Amazon Rainforest.[194] In September 2019, Yoshiki donated 10 million yen to support disaster relief in his hometown of Chiba after it was struck by Typhoon Faxai,[195][196] and later volunteered for manual labor at the recovery site when he returned to Japan.[197][198] In October 2019, Yoshiki donated an additional 10 million yen to assist recovery in Japan from Typhoon Hagibis.[199] In December 2019, Yoshiki was named as one of Forbes Asia's 30 Heroes of Philanthropy for his contributions to "disaster relief, orphanages and treatment for children with bone-marrow disease."[200]

In January 2020, Yoshiki donated $50,000 to the Australian Red Cross to aid bushfire victims and $50,000 to the Rainforest Trust's Conservation Action Fund.[201] In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, he donated $100,000 to the Recording Academy's MusiCares Foundation COVID-19 relief fund,[202] and $24,000 to several Meals on Wheels locations in Southern California.[203] In April 2020, Yoshiki donated 10 million yen to Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine.[204] In May 2020, Yoshiki explained his charitable activities to The Japan Times: "If you have a certain influence with people, I think it’s better for you to announce it. By doing so, you can provide awareness of the situation, as well as inform people about charitable organizations supporting the cause, and people may get inspired by your actions as well," said Yoshiki. "The goal is to do as much good as we can for others."[170][171]

Fashion

In 2011, Yoshiki debuted Yoshikimono, a line of rock-inspired kimono, at the Asia Girls Explosion fashion event in collaboration with Tokyo Girls Collection.[205][206] Yoshiki created the fashion brand to pay tribute to his parents who ran a kimono shop when he was growing up.[207] The collection debuted its first fashion show during the finale of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo,[208] and was invited to open Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo 2017.[209][210] Yoshikimono opened Tokyo Fashion Week 2020 S/S with the brand's third collection, which featured kimono designed around characters from the anime series Attack on Titan and the comic book series Blood Red Dragon, co-created by Stan Lee.[211][212]

In August 2017, Yoshiki was chosen for the cover of Vogue Japan, as the first Japanese male to do so.[213]

In October 2018, Yoshiki was the featured model for the Yves Saint Laurent YSL Beauty Hotel opening event in Tokyo, participating in a female makeup demonstration applied by Yves Saint Laurent's beauty director Tom Pecheux.[214][215]

In September 2020, Yoshiki was featured on the cover of fashion magazine Numero Tokyo,[216] and in October 2020, Kodansha announced Yoshiki's fashion photo book XY, shot at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles.[217]

Business ventures

Yoshiki founded Extasy Records in Japan in 1986, using money he received from his mother when she sold her business.[218] The labels Extasy Japan and Extasy Records International were later established around 2000.[219] Yoshiki founded the Japanese record label Platinum Records in April 1992, as an affiliate of PolyGram.[23]

He owned Extasy Recording Studios, a recording studio complex in North Hollywood, Los Angeles formerly known as One On One Recording,[23] which he bought from the previous owner Jim David in 1992 and renamed after his own record label in 1999. It was sold in 2012, and is now 17 Hertz Studio.[220]

He bought Brooklyn Recording Studios, which housed the Los Angeles offices of Maverick Records, in April 1998 from owners Madonna and Freddy DeMann. He renamed it One on One South,[23] before using it as the headquarters of Extasy Records International.[221]

Yoshiki owns and operates another LA recording complex, which was formerly known as Larrabee East.[222]

On May 15, 2000, Yoshiki filed a patent for compressed music data playback technology, including the method and device for reproducing mp3 music.[223][224]

In 2009, with California winemaker Michael Mondavi, Yoshiki branded a small line of wine titled "Y", which consists of a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon from a 2008 vintage.[225][226]

In 2015, the Yoshiki Channel was launched on Niconico Video, a Japanese video platform. The channel streams exclusive live shows and distributes links for movies and magazines.[227]

Yoshiki also has his own Hello Kitty product line, named Yoshikitty.[228][229]

Yoshiki has partnered with researchers to investigate music as therapy.[230] Yoshiki also has branded MasterCard and Visa credit cards,[231][232] and is an investor in Green Lord Motors.[233][234]

Equipment
Kawai CR-40A
Kawai Yoshiki Custom

Yoshiki said he considers himself a groove drummer.[235] He normally wears a neck brace when playing the drums; as a result of his years of "headbanging" while drumming, he injured his neck and had to undergo surgery.[235][236] In 2015, Yoshiki stated he is more of a songwriter than a drummer.[165]

Yoshiki's drum kit up close

Tama Drums created a custom-made acrylic drum set for Yoshiki to use on stage, the ArtStar series. Yoshiki admitted that the clear acrylic shells are great for appearances, allowing the stage lights to color his drums with varying hues, but are not ideal sound-wise. He explained that the clear drums are difficult to play because they do not have the usual responsiveness of wooden shells and are not very durable; as they require much more physical pounding to deliver a good sound and that causes the heads to be essentially ruined after only a single concert.[165] Yoshiki's live kit uses two 24-inch (610 mm) kick drums, and centers the 14" snare drum directly in front of him. He usually works with five tom drums: three rack toms with diameters of 12", 13", and 14", and two floor toms with diameters of 16" and 18".[237] However, in the studio he uses a limited made titanium kit from Kitano drum called Tama Artstar II "Titan Body" with Evans coated heads.[165]

Yoshiki usually performs on a Kawai Crystal II Grand Piano CR-40A. Kawai also makes a Yoshiki-model grand piano of traditional wooden design.

He has a constant numbness of two fingers on his left hand that he says makes it difficult to play piano.[235] He also suffers from chronic tendonitis on his right hand, which may cause him to be unable to play musical instruments in the future.[238]

Discography
Main articles: Yoshiki discography and X Japan discography
Solo studio albums

Tours and concerts
Solo
With X Japan
Main article: X Japan § Tours and performances

Awards
See also: X Japan § Awards
Year Award Category Nomination Result
1994 36th Japan Record Awards. Excellence award[30] NOA: Ima wo dakishimete (今を抱きしめて) Won
2013 Billboard Japan Music Awards Classic Artist of the Year[243] Yoshiki Nominated
2016 Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Asian Icon Award[115] Won

References
  1. Art of Life - Yoshiki + Tetsushi Ichikawa (in Japanese). Rockin' On. 1992.
  2. "North American Contemporary Roster". William Morris Endeavor. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  3. Edna Gundersen (January 1, 2013). "Globes theme by X-Japan's Yoshiki goes on sale Jan. 15". USA Today. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  4. "X Japan Discography". Discogs. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  5. Yang, Jeff; Can, Dina; Hong, Terry (1997). Eastern Standard Time. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-395-76341-4.
  6. "X Japan's Yoshiki Talks Defying Expectations, Defining Success & Delivering Timeless Music". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  7. "X Marks the Spot: An Interview with Yoshiki (of X Japan)". Consequence of Sound. October 5, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  8. "Yoshiki Video". Golden Globes. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  9. Rao, Mallika (January 11, 2013). "Golden Globes Opening Song Explained By Yoshiki, The Japanese Superstar Who Wrote It". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  10. "Japan's Rock Legend Yoshiki Rocks Classical Charts Worldwide". Tokyo Journal. December 9, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  11. 表紙／巻頭インタビュー YOSHIKI ピアノ、クラシック音楽、これからの活動について大いに語る！. Keyboard Magazine Japan (in Japanese). 1. January 2003.
  12. Dawes, Laina (February 13, 2014). "Metal Legend Yoshiki of X Japan Gets His Ovation at the Grammys". MTV Iggy. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  13. "Rock star Yoshiki on how his career saved his life". CNBC. October 25, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  14. Sharma, Amit (March 7, 2017). "X Japan's Yoshiki: the 10 records that changed my life". MusicRadar. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  15. Seida, Linda."X-Japan > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
  16. "Oricon Weekly Album Chart for the first week of May 1989". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  17. X、初期のリマスター再発商品2作が好調！. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. February 14, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  18. "The Japan Gold Disc Award 1990". golddisc.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  19. 送料無料 未DVD化 LIVE ビデオ 小室哲哉 YOSHIKI TMN X (in Japanese). Rakuten. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  20. YOSHIKIが小室哲哉と再会。V2のショットに「何を話してるの？」と興味津々。 (in Japanese). Techinsight. September 25, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  21. 「背徳の瞳」リリース情報 (in Japanese). ORICON STYLE. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  22. YOSHIKI SELECTION / YOSHIKI（エックス）が愛したクラシック (in Japanese). ORICON STYLE. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  23. "Ainlay Installs Nashville's First SSL Axiom-MT at Backstage". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 111 (48): 52. November 27, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
  24. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: How J-Rock legend Yoshiki changed music forever". Team Rock. May 10, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  25. Strauss, Neil (June 18, 1998). "THE POP LIFE; End of a Life, End of an Era". nytimes.com. The New York Times Company.
  26. "Yoshiki Presents~Eternal Melody" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  27. 1993年11月第3週の邦楽シングルランキング情報 Oricon weekly single chart for the third week of November 1993. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  28. YOSHIKI、「薔薇のように咲いて 桜のように散って」を語る (in Japanese). Barks. July 10, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  29. Jonathan Clements, Motoko Tamamuro (2003). "Complete Love". The Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama Since 1953. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 9781880656815.
  30. 第36回日本レコード大賞. jacompa.or.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  31. Patrick Lemieux, Adam Unger (2013). The Queen Chronology: The Recording & Release History of the Band. Lulu.com. p. 105. ISBN 9780991984046.
  32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 September 1994 - 01 October 1994". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  33. "Yoshiki Hayashi - X Japan". Metal Exiles. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  34. "The GRAMMY.com Interview: Yoshiki". grammy.com. October 24, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  35. "History" (in Japanese). lemans.co.jp. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013.
  36. "Vandoorne heads to Super Formula". Pitpass. February 12, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  37. "Interview with Toshi". iyashi-no-concert.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
  38. X JAPAN・YOSHIKIが語る起業家とアーティストの共通点 (in Japanese). Forbes Japan. March 18, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  39. "Yoshiki prepares for classical tour amid a new appreciation". Japan Times. November 17, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  40. "X Japan's Incredible Ride: Meet Rock's Most Flamboyant Survivors". Rolling Stone. October 10, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  41. "Japan's Yoshiki Teams With Warner In Venture". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 112 (28): 48. 2000. ISSN 0006-2510.
  42. "YOSHIKI 7- Eleven CM&MAKING①VIOLET UK" (in Japanese). OK Music. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  43. "Yoshikinet Special Interview". Xjapan.de. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  44. "In God's Hands Soundtrack". IMDB. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  45. "About Violet UK" (in Japanese). Columbia.jp. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  46. "Globe profile". avexnet.or.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  47. YOSHIKI、本格始動の第１作目をついに発売！. barks.jp (in Japanese). March 9, 2005. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  48. "Dahlia I'll Be Your Love/2003.10.29 Debut". columbia.jp. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  49. "Information on the Expo 2005". expo2005.or.jp. Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  50. 元X-JAPANのＹＯＳＨＩＫＩが楽曲を提供 花組公演「タカラヅカ舞夢！」. sponichi.co.jp (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  51. "YOSHIKI / ETERNAL MELODY II" (in Japanese). columbia.jp. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  52. "Trax makes comeback after 5 years". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  53. YOSHIKI全面プロデュースでTRAXデビュー！ (in Japanese). Barks. December 13, 2004. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  54. YOSHIKI『ETERNAL MELODY II』好スタート！. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon. March 23, 2005. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  55. "Yoshiki's Columbia website". columbia.jp (in Japanese). Columbia Music Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  56. "Yoshiki to compose Golden Globes theme". Golden Globes. January 5, 2012. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  57. "VIOLET UK – Sex & Religion". Discogs. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  58. "Mary Mona Lisa". Violet UK Myspace. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  59. YOSHIKI&Gackt新バンドにSUGIZO加入 (in Japanese). sponichi.co.jp. December 18, 2006. Archived from the original on March 23, 2007.
  60. YOSHIKI、新バンド「SKIN」今夏始動を発表！ (in Japanese). Oricon. May 27, 2007.
  61. "S.K.I.N. Online". SKIN-online.net. Archived from the original on July 2, 2007.
  62. "Asian Imports: Attempting to Break Into the U.S. Music Industry". jrockrevolution.com. June 19, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007.
  63. "Anime Expo 2007 announcement: Miyavi, Gackt, Yoshiki & Sugizo band performance on 6/29/2007". Anime Expo. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  64. "'Super band' S.K.I.N. Confirmed". JaME. May 26, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  65. Sarah (July 25, 2007). "S.K.I.N.'s World Debut". jame-world.com. Japanese Music Entertainment. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  66. "Credits for Catacombs". imdb.com.
  67. "Jrock Revolution at the Catacombs World Premiere". JRock Revolution. October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  68. ""Saw IV: Music From and Inspired By Saw IV" (CD)". Metal Underground. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  69. "[press release] X Japan Members Yoshiki & Sugizo to Appear & Perform at Otakon 2010". Purple Sky Magazine. June 17, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  70. "Official announcement of X Japan's Aqua City performance". xjapan.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
  71. "Catacombs preview information". natalie.mu (in Japanese). September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  72. "Repo! The Genetic Opera: Principal Photography Underway". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2007.
  73. 「ズームイン!!SUPER」30周年記念. ntv.co.jp (in Japanese). Nippon Television Network Corporation. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  74. 『GOEMON』映画会場で先着5万人にVIOLET UKの「ROSA」プレゼント (in Japanese). Barks. April 30, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  75. "YOSHIKI collaborates with racing team for 2009 Super GT series". Japan Today. GPlusMedia Co., Ltd. February 12, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  76. "YOSHIKI, recovering from back surgery, reveals fans will benefit in his will". Japan Today. August 25, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  77. "Announcement from Management: Emergency Surgery for Yoshiki to Take Place" (in English and Japanese). Yoshiki. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  78. X JAPAN、＜JAPAN EXPO＞に登場、8000人が熱狂. barks.jp (in Japanese). July 5, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  79. "YOSHIKI Breaking Down at Present Hotel with Hyperthyroidism". Music Japan Plus. October 8, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  80. YOSHIKIが甲状腺疾患を公表 (in Japanese). Oricon Style. October 7, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  81. "Toshi feat Yoshiki special dinner show" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  82. Daniel Robinson (December 15, 2010). "X Japan's Yoshiki seeks a second coming". The Japan Times. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  83. "What's AGE - Asia Girl Explosion". gw.tv. AGE Executive Committee. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  84. YOSHIKI、新ファッションイベント開催へ 噂のVIOLET UKも本格披露 (in Japanese). Oricon. February 9, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  85. "Model - Asia Girl Explosion". gw.tv. AGE Executive Committee. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  86. X JAPAN、＜ASIA GIRLS EXPLOSION＞に参戦決定 (in Japanese). Barks. February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  87. Eric Pedersen (May 12, 2011). "X Japan's Yoshiki to Host 'Yoshiki Radio' Show on SiriusXM (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  88. "Stan Lee & Todd McFarlane Team with Music Icon". comics.ign.com. IGN Entertainment. June 26, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  89. AnaMaria (January 7, 2013). "Yoshiki's Golde Globe theme to be released internationally". goldenglobes.org. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  90. Sunda, Mike (May 21, 2013). "X Japan waxes lyrical at Madame Tussauds debut". The Japan Times. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  91. "X Japan Frontman Unveils Wax Figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong". Revolver. May 31, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  92. Mary Ouellette (May 31, 2012). "X Japan's Yoshiki Becomes a Madame Tussauds Wax Figure". Loudwire. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  93. "Japan's Renaissance Rocker Goes 'Classical'". billboard.com. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  94. "Composer and pianist Yoshiki releases new CD". pianistmagazine.com. September 26, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  95. Frometa, RJ (February 24, 2014). "Yoshiki's important announcement at the Grammy Museum". ventsmagazine.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  96. "The Drop: Yoshiki". billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  97. Corey Irwin (August 27, 2013). "X Japan's Yoshiki Goes Classical for Intimate Los Angeles Performance". noisecreep.com. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  98. "Yoshiki Releases New Classical Album". Reuters. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  99. Liszewski, Andrew (March 21, 2014). "Watch a Japanese Pianist Battle a Holographic Version of Himself". gizmodo.com. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  100. Shirong Gao (May 3, 2014). "JQ Magazine: Concert Review—Yoshiki Classical World Tour Dazzles San Francisco with Surprise X Japan Guest". JetWit.com. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  101. Jannis Mérida (May 4, 2014). "El Auditorio Blackberry se llena de recuerdos y nostalgia". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  102. "Tour". Yoshiki Official Website. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  103. Kirsty Evans (April 23, 2014). "Classical Import: How Yoshiki Went From Stadiums to Concert Halls". SF Weekly. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  104. "X Japan's Yoshiki Performs Saint Seiya CG Film's Theme". Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  105. Flanagan, Andrew (October 12, 2014). "X Japan Takes Madison Square Garden By Rainstorm". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  106. Vijayaraghavan, Nandita (October 16, 2014). "X Japan prove their status as rock royalty at Madison Square Garden 2014". Drama Fever. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  107. Marchese, David (October 6, 2014). "X Japan Plays in Front of 70,000 People at Home. Now They're Slumming It at Madison Square Garden". Vulture. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  108. Parker, Lyndsey (November 1, 2014). "Yoshiki Debuts Official Hello Kitty Theme Song at Hello Kitty Con". Yahoo!. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  109. "LA's Comikaze to Host X Japan Leader Yoshiki". Anime News Network. October 26, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  110. Quigley, J.T. (April 8, 2015). "Japan's biggest rock star isn't sold on Tidal, Jay Z's music streaming service". Tech In Asia. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  111. "X JAPAN's YOSHIKI & ToshI to perform in 'HYPER JAPAN Festival 2015' in London". Tokyo Hive. June 27, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  112. "X Japan to Premiere 'We Are X' Documentary Film At Sundance Film Festival". Loudwire. January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  113. "We Are X Documentary Film To Make Its World Premiere at 2016 Sundance Film Festival". J-Rock Radio. 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  114. YOSHIKI、「ASIAN ICON AWARD」受賞「この賞をX JAPAN、HIDE、TAIJIに捧げたい」 (in Japanese). Musicman. November 14, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  115. "Jeff Beck, Joe Perry and All-Star Band triumph at Classic Rock Awards in Tokyo". Team Rock. November 11, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  116. ＜YOSHIKI CLASSICAL SPECIAL WORLD TOUR 第2弾＞、チケット先行スタート (in Japanese). Barks. October 3, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  117. "The Yoshiki Classical Special Hong Kong show cancelled but now fans get a free show". Jrock News. December 30, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  118. "Review: Yoshiki at Tokyo International Forum". December 9, 2016. Ryotaro Aoki, Japan Times. December 9, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2017
  119. "Yoshiki Classical Special Feat. Orchestra Cancelled". Anime News Network. December 30, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2021
  120. "Yoshiki Classical Special in Hong Kong Cancelled, Free Concert Announced". Silverfaye, Jame World. December 29, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2017
  121. "Yoshiki Classical with Orchestra Completes Hong Kong Performance One Day After Cancellation". Anime News Network. January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2021
  122. "Yoshiki performs 2 sold-out shows at New York's Carnegie Hall". Japan Today. January 16, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2017
  123. "Yoshiki performs 2 sold-out shows at New York's Carnegie Hall". Japan Today. January 16, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  124. "X Japan and KISS Collide in new "YoshiKISS" Shirt". Kara Dennison, Crunchyroll. April 13, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017
  125. "X Japan Leader Yoshiki to Undergo Surgery". Anime News Network. May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  126. "X Japan's Yoshiki needs urgent surgery after decades of intense drumming". BBC News. BBC. May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  127. "X Japan Leader Yoshiki Recovers From Surgery". Anime News Network. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  128. "X Japan confirms Japan tour, changes format to "Acoustic Special Miracle"". J-Rock News, Visual Kei. July 10, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  129. "Yoshiki returns to Paris to complete whirlwind European promotion tour". JRock News. October 27, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  130. YOSHIKI feat.HYDE、「Red Swan」は「Rusty Nail」を一部意識 (in Japanese). Barks. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  131. "YOSHIKI feat. HYDE "Red Swan" from Attack on Titan – #1 iTunes Rock Chart debut in 10 countries". J-Generation. October 4, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  132. "'Red Swan' by YOSHIKI feat. HYDE Tops Rock Music Charts Inside & Outside Japan". MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん. October 5, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  133. "Sarah Brightman Announces Uplifting New Album 'Hymn,' Tour Dates". Billboard. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  134. "X JAPAN's Yoshiki Set to Join Sarah Brightman on Her 'HYMN World Tour'". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  135. ""YOSHIKI vs. YOSHIKI" makes history on Kouhaku Uta Gassen 2018". J-Generation. January 8, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  136. "Japanese composer and rock star Yoshiki to score xXx 4". ComingSoon.net. January 23, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  137. "Yoshiki composes music for the films xXx 4 and Spycies, as X Japan finish up first album in more than 22 years". Consequence of Sound. January 23, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  138. "HYDEが見据える海外の舞台「あと3年でどこまで行けるか」 | Rolling Stone Japan(ローリングストーン ジャパン）". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  139. Minikhiem, Michelle (November 25, 2018). "HYDE and YOSHIKI pair up for "ZIPANG"". J-Generation. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  140. "Yoshiki at Carnegie Hall | THIRTEEN". THIRTEEN - New York Public Media. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  141. "Yoshiki's live special at New York's Carnegie Hall to air on PBS". www.digitaljournal.com. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  142. Desk, TV News. "PBS to Air Yoshiki Live At Carnegie Hall in Nov. 2019". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  143. Blabbermouth (November 19, 2019). "'Yoshiki - Life Of A Japanese Rock Star' Documentary Series To Premiere Via YouTube Originals". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  144. Dennison, Kara. "X Japan's Yoshiki Shows You the Rock Star Life in YouTube Documentary". Crunchyroll. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  145. "Yoshiki makes surprise appearance at Kiss concert in Tokyo". Japan Today. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  146. Blabbermouth (December 13, 2019). "KISS Joined By X JAPAN's YOSHIKI For Two Songs At Tokyo Concert (Video)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  147. "Yoshiki & KISS Will Ring In 2020 Together". GRAMMY.com. December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  148. "2020年01月20日～2020年01月26日 オリコン週間 シングルランキング". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  149. "SixTONES' 'Imitation Rain' Tops Japan Hot 100 as Streams for King Gnu Soar". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  150. "Bono, Will.I.Am, Jennifer Hudson & Yoshiki Collab on "Sing For Life"". Billboard. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  151. "St. Vincent, Yoshiki Release Classical Version of 'New York'". Rolling Stone. August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  152. "YOSHIKI、ディズニーと初タッグ。明日『Disneyマイ・ミュージック・ストーリー - YOSHIKI』配信開始". BARKS (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  153. "YOSHIKI 写真集『XY』が1位獲得……プレミア価格で驚異的な売上を記録 | radiko news(ラジコニュース)". news.radiko.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  154. "YOSHIKI fashion photobook "XY" to be released in November". J-Generation. October 8, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  155. "YOSHIKI: Under The Sky」ティザー公開、マリリン・マンソンやSixTONESらの名前も" (in Japanese). natalie.mu. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  156. "Yoshiki – Youtube Originals Documentary 'Under The Sky' Postponed Due to COVID-19". All About The Rock. December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  157. "QUEEN's BRIAN MAY and ROGER TAYLOR Perform With YOSHIKI On Japanese TV On New Year's Eve (Video)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  158. "Queen's May + Taylor Perform on Japanese TV on New Year's Eve". Loudwire. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  159. ＹＯＳＨＩＫＩ、ロックに目覚めた３枚 「キッス・アライヴ！～地獄の狂獣」. MSN Sankei News. November 16, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  160. 柿沢ちづか(KAKIZAWA Chizuka) (January 17, 2016). YOSHIKI再び！. ヘドバン(Headbang) (in Japanese). 9: 40–49.
  161. 『ロッキンf』（2000年11月号）立東社
  162. UV (in Japanese). ソニー・マガジンズ. ISBN 978-4-7897-9464-0. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  163. "The GRAMMY.com Interview: Yoshiki". GRAMMY.com. October 24, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  164. 『月刊ギグス』（1997年2月号）シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント
  165. "Yoshiki, X Japan: 10 drummers that blew my mind". MusicRadar. November 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  166. 『リズム&ドラム・マガジン』（1991年8月号）リットーミュージック
  167. 『リズム&ドラム・マガジン』（1990年4月号）リットーミュージック
  168. ロッキンf 1997年7月号別冊 Rockin' Take CAFE（立東社） pp160 （ロッキンf 1989年9月号掲載分）
  169. 『ロッキンf』（1989年11月号）立東社
  170. Yoshikawa, Mai (May 8, 2020). "Follow the leader: How COVID-19 could unlock Japan's giving potential". The Japan Times. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  171. NEWS, KYODO. "Follow the leader: How COVID-19 might unlock Japan's giving potential". Kyodo News+. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  172. 【ライブレポート】X JAPAN、ライブハウスで咆哮 (in Japanese). Barks. November 28, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  173. "X Japan Hong Kong Live Invited Orphans to Attend Sold-Out Concert, Sets Up Charity to Aid Children". Yoshiki Foundation America. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  174. "Yoshiki Visited School in Sichuan, China One Year After Major Earthquake, Donates Musical Instruments". Yoshiki Foundation America. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  175. "Yoshiki Invited Orphanages Throughout Taiwan to Attend The Band's Performance". Yoshiki Foundation America. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  176. "Yoshiki Foundation America". Yoshiki Foundation America. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  177. Amy Sciarretto (April 13, 2011). "Anthony Kiedis, Marilyn Manson Donate to Yoshiki's JRFA". artistdirect.com. Rogue Digital, LLC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  178. Olsen Ebright (April 19, 2011). "$20M Bid Shuts Down Yoshiki Auction". nbclosangeles.com. NBCUniversal, Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  179. Olsen Ebright (April 25, 2011). "Encore: Yoshiki Piano Auction Re-Tunes". nbclosangeles.com. NBCUniversal, Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  180. Olsen Ebright (April 28, 2011). "Yoshiki's Crystal Piano Nets $130K for Japan Relief". nbclosangeles.com. NBCUniversal, Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  181. "Bid For the Chance to Enjoy A Private Dinner with Yoshiki". Anime News Network. November 21, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  182. "Yoshiki awards two highest bidding fans private dinner for Grammy Foundation, MusiCares CharityBuzz auction". The Music Universe. December 15, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  183. Merill, Phil (October 16, 2017). "X Japan's Yoshiki Donates $100,000 To MusiCares Hurricane Relief". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  184. "Yoshiki Donates 10 Million Yen To Flood Relief". GRAMMY.com. July 16, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  185. Wiederhorn, Jon. "X Japan's Yoshiki Donates $89,000 for Japan Flood Relief". Loudwire. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  186. "X Japan's Yoshiki donates 10 million yen to disaster relief after western Japan's torrential rain". SoraNews24. July 13, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  187. edoh (September 15, 2018). "YOSHIKI donates 10 million yen to aid Hokkaido earthquake". JROCK NEWS. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  188. "Japanese rock star donates $87,900 for fire victims in Gangwon". koreatimes. April 11, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  189. "Japanese rock star Yoshiki to host masterclass in Miami on June 27 at Frost School of Music". J-Generation. June 25, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  190. Micucci, Matt (June 28, 2019). "Miles Davis, Vince Mendoza, Chick Corea: The Week in Jazz". JAZZIZ Magazine. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  191. Perez, Amanda M. "A masterclass with Yoshiki". University of Miami News and Events. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  192. Luster, Joseph. "J-Rock Icon YOSHIKI Donates 10 Million Yen to Kyoto Animation". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  193. "YOSHIKI donates 10 million yen to Kyoto Animation". J-Generation. August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  194. "Japanese Rock Star YOSHIKI Donates To Earth Alliance Amazon Forest Fund". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  195. "Blackpink singer Lisa and X Japan drummer Yoshiki donate money to their home towns". The Straits Times. September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  196. "X Japan's Yoshiki apologizes for donating "only" 10 million yen after hometown is hit by typhoon". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. September 18, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  197. "YOSHIKI volunteers in Chiba Prefecture | tokyohive.com". www.tokyohive.com. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  198. "YOSHIKI、故郷・千葉でのボランティア報告「1日も早い復興祈っています」". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  199. "Rock star Yoshiki donates 10 million yen to relief from Typhoon Hagibis". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. October 31, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  200. Chung, Grace. "Asia's 2019 Heroes Of Philanthropy: Catalysts For Change". Forbes. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  201. "X Japan frontman Yoshiki donates $50,000 to Australian Red Cross". NME.COM. January 14, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  202. "Yoshiki Donates $100k To MusiCares COVID-19 Releif". GRAMMY.com. March 30, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  203. "YOSHIKI Makes Donation to Meals on Wheels Across Los Angeles, Urges Support for Those Affected by Sudden Food Shortages". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  204. "YOSHIKI donates 10 million yen to Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine". J-Generation. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  205. Kageyama, Yuri (March 8, 2011). "Yoshiki seeks global rock glory for X Japan". Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  206. Robson, Daniel (December 15, 2011). "X Japan's Yoshiki Seeks a Second Coming". Japan Times. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  207. "Yoshikimono Debut Collection Appears At Tokyo Fashion Week; X Japan Member Yoshiki Reveals Twist". Korea Portal. October 20, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  208. Fromets, RJ (October 2015). "Yoshiki to Unveil Yoshikimono First Collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week". Vents Magazine. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  209. "Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO 2017 S/S開幕 | Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO（楽天ファッション・ウィーク東京）". rakutenfashionweektokyo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  210. FASHIONSNAP.COM (October 17, 2016). "新生ファッションウィークが東京で開幕 YOSHIKIが初日に着物ショー". FASHIONSNAP.COM [ファッションスナップ・ドットコム] (in Japanese). Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  211. Wetherille, kellywetherille,Kelly; kellywetherille; Wetherille, Kelly (October 15, 2019). "Yoshikimono RTW Spring 2020". WWD. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  212. "Highlights at Tokyo Fashion Week | Culture". Metropolis Magazine. October 31, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  213. Meg Murphy (August 26, 2017). "X Japan's Yoshiki to be first Japanese male to appear on cover of Vogue Japan". SoraNews24. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  214. FASHIONSNAP.COM (October 11, 2018). "YOSHIKIが「YSL BEAUTY HOTEL」の記者会見に登壇、メイクショーを披露". FASHIONSNAP.COM [ファッションスナップ・ドットコム] (in Japanese). Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  215. "YOSHIKIが「YSL」ホテルに登場！ トム・ペシューのメイクアップに染まる". WWD JAPAN.com (in Japanese). October 11, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  216. "モードなYOSHIKIが魅せる唯一無二の存在感 ついに『Numero TOKYO』11月号のカバーに登場". Numero TOKYO (in Japanese). September 18, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  217. "YOSHIKI、誕生日に28年ぶり写真集『XY』 筋肉美も披露「まだまだ行ける気がする」". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  218. "Visual Kei and EXTASY RECORDS". JRock Revolution. August 25, 2007. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  219. Billboard July 8, 2000, p. 48
  220. "17 Hertz Studio Website". Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  221. "Newsline..." Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 110 (16): 33. 1998. ISSN 0006-2510.
  222. "Spotlight On Yoshiki". Billboard. September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  223. "ＭＰ３音楽データ再生方法及び装置 - 株式会社ジャパンミュージックエージェンシー". www.patentjp.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  224. "Method and device for reproducing mp3 music data - Yoshiki Hayashi". patents.google.com. May 15, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  225. "Musician Yoshiki's creativity covers the spectrum". sfgate. April 24, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  226. "Y By Yoshiki" (in Japanese). Japan Music Agency. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  227. ""YOSHIKI CHANNEL" Opens on Nico Nico Video!". Sync Music Japan. August 11, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  228. YOSHIKI、ハローキティ誕生35周年記念パーティーで新yoshikittyお披露目. Barks (in Japanese). October 15, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  229. "Hello Kitty teams up with X Japan's Yoshiki to rock out in Yoshikimono!". Rocketnews24. July 20, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  230. "Yoshiki Establishes Foundation of Rock Foundation". Olive Ventures. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  231. Harris, Dan (August 10, 2010). "Japan's Bono: Yoshiki Is Ready to Take on the U.S." ABC News. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  232. "Japanese Music Superstar Yoshiki to Compose Theme for 2012 Golden Globe Awards". January 10, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  233. "The Tommy Kaira ZZ – The latest electric sports car". Japanese Car Blog. October 4, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  234. "Green Lord Motors History" (PDF). Green Lord Motors. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  235. Lentz, Andrew (January 2011). "Yoshiki: The Japanese Bono's Bonzai Beat". Drum!. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013.
  236. "Interview: X Japan Bandleader Yoshiki Hayashi Talks Next Album, Neck Braces, And More". Revolver. May 11, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  237. "Yoshiki: Tama Drums". Tama Drums. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  238. "YOSHIKI of X JAPAN speaks out, "My right hand will not recover"". Barks. February 5, 2015. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  239. "Yoshiki Classical". Jame World. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  240. YOSHIKI プレミアムディナーショー『EVENING WITH YOSHIKI 2017 IN NAGOYA & OSAKA & TOKYO JAPAN』開催決定！！ (in Japanese). Nicovideo Yoshiki Channel. March 13, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  241. "「LUNATIC FEST.」にYOSHIKIソロ出演決定「特別なサプライズあるかも」". Natalie (in Japanese). June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  242. YOSHIKI、ブレックファスト＆ディナーショー連続7公演終了。「自分はなんて幸せなんだろうと思う」 (in Japanese). Barks. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  243. "Billboard Japan Music Awards 2013" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.