Yoshiki(I)

Yoshiki is a composer, classically-trained pianist, rock drummer, film director, fashion designer, and leader of the rock groups X Japan and The Last Rockstars. He was named "one of the most influential musicians and composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. He is described by Billboard Magazine as "prolific" and "a musical innovator". He received the Asian Icon Award from Classic Rock Magazine and was chosen to be the first-ever Japanese man on the Vogue Japan cover in 2017. In 2023, Yoshiki made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky (2023) and became the first Japanese artist to be honored with an imprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years. In 2024, Variety named Yoshiki as their International Achievement in Music honoree.

His film and TV credits include composing music for Saw IV (2007), Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), Goemon (2009), The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2012), and the hit anime series Attack on Titan (2013). His studio, multimedia and on-stage collaborations include Gene Simmons, Stan Lee, Skrillex, Sarah Brightman, and David Lynch.

He composed the theme song "La Venus" for the X Japan documentary We Are X (2016). The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Special Jury Award for Best Editing and went on to win awards at SXSW before its nationwide U.S. theatrical release. We Are X has continued to garner critical acclaim with premieres around the world and invitations to over 30 international film festivals.

X Japan has sold 30 million singles and albums combined, sold out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times. The band's popularity has spread throughout the world with sold-out performances in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

In 1999, he was asked to compose and perform a piano concerto with a 77-piece orchestra to celebrate the 10th year of the Japanese Emperor's reign.

In 2005, he composed the theme song and conducted the orchestra for the opening ceremony of the World Expo.

In 2010, he launched Yoshiki Foundation America, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, which supports various charitable organizations, including the Grammy Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the 2011 Japanese earthquake victims.

In 2013, he released his classical solo album, Yoshiki Classical, which included works co-produced by acclaimed The Beatles producer Sir George Martin. The album debuted at #1 on the iTunes Classical Music chart in 10 countries and featured performances by Yoshiki as both the composer and pianist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2014, he performed his first Yoshiki Classical World Tour with sold-out shows in 10 countries. That same year, X Japan headlined New York's Madison Square Garden.

In 2016, he founded the rock festival Visual Japan Summit with over 50 bands performing for sold-out audiences of 100,000 fans over 3 nights in Japan, ranking #6 in the top-attended music festivals in Japan that year.

In 2017, he performed 2 sold-out classical concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Yoshiki Classical Tour. Later in 2017, X Japan headlined London's Wembley Arena.

The We Are X Original Soundtrack claimed the #1 position on the UK Rock Chart. Following the We Are X U.S. Blu-ray release, the film was chosen as iTunes' "Editor's Choice" and Amazon's "Indie Pick of the Week" in the U.S.

X Japan made their Coachella debut in 2018 and sold out 3 concerts at Makuhari Messe in September 2018 for 100,000 fans. Due to a powerful typhoon on the final night, X Japan sent the audience home and performed an unprecedented "no audience" live concert broadcast for over 1 million viewers.

In October 2018, he composed the theme song "Red Swan" for the Attack on Titan (2013) anime series. The track reached #1 on iTunes Rock charts in 14 countries. In November 2018, he performed his sold-out classical concert series Yoshiki Classical 2018 at the Tokyo International Forum with guest performers Hyde and Sarah Brightman.

The special-edition digital single of Sarah Brightman's performance of "Miracle" (which was composed by Yoshiki) was released worldwide in November 2018, ranking in the Top 10 iTunes Classical Music charts in 15 countries.

In March 2019, the Yoshiki Live at Carnegie Hall (2019) special began airing across the USA on PBS.

Also in 2020, Yoshiki collaborated with Bono, Will.i.am , and Jennifer Hudson for "#SING4LIFE", and his special arrangement of St. Vincent's hit song "New York" was released worldwide.

In 2022, Yoshiki formed the rock supergroup The Last Rockstars with fellow musicians Hyde, Sugizo, and Miyavi. The group launched a sold-out tour of Japan and the U.S. in early 2023.

Beyond music, he has his own Visa and MasterCard issued by one of Japan's largest banks. Legendary Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee created a super hero comic book based on Yoshiki titled "Blood Red Dragon". Yoshiki is the first live person to have a Hello Kitty character named after him - "Yoshikitty".

In 2009, Yoshiki launched his "Y by Yoshiki" wine in collaboration with Napa Valley winemaker and 4th generation vintner Rob Mondavi Jr.

In 2015, he introduced the Yoshikimono collection of high-fashion kimonos, inspired by his family's kimono business. The collection debuted as the finale of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo. Yoshikimono was later invited to open Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo 2017 S/S. Yoshikimono opened Tokyo Fashion Week 2020 S/S and was featured in exhibitions at the prestigious V&A Museum in England and the Tokyo National Museum in Japan.

Yoshiki Channel is broadcast on YouTube and Nico Nico, Japan's largest video-streaming service, and is the platform's #1 artist channel with the highest number of subscribers.

In 2020, Yoshiki's fashion photobook XY immediately sold out in Japan and ranked number one in Japan's photobook sales. In September that year, the documentary feature My Music Story: Yoshiki (2020) began airing exclusively on Disney+.

In 2021, Baccarat selected Yoshiki to design a Harcourt glass in celebration of its 180th anniversary.

In 2022, Yoshiki formed a business partnership with Coca-Cola Japan to launch the energy drinks Real Gold X and Real Gold Y. Yoshiki and Champagne Maison Pommery released their new Champagne brand as Pommery's first partnership with an international music talent. Also in 2022, Yoshiki's talent competition series Yoshiki Superstar Project X - co-produced by top Japanese broadcaster NTV - became the #1 ranked variety show on Hulu Japan.

In 2023, Yoshiki made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky (2023). He performed the Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 "Requiem" headlining shows at Tokyo Garden Theater (Tokyo), Royal Albert Hall (London), Dolby Theater (L.A.), and Carnegie Hall (New York). This tour was the first time a Japanese artist headlined all these historic venues.

In 2024, Yoshiki's new high fashion brand Maison Yoshiki Paris debuted as part of the official calendar at Milan Fashion Week, followed by its debut at Paris Fashion Week. The same year, Yoshiki performed the U.S. National Anthem at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.