Written by Sugar & Risa
World-renowned Japanese musician, YOSHIKI, invited fans and friends to an intimate talk and performance at the prestigious Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on May 15, exhibiting a side to him that was at times solemn and playful, rarely seen of the cool rocker at his concert performances. During the conference Monday evening, he officially announced his 10th anniversary classical world tour, Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 “REQUIEM”, a dedication to his mother who had sadly passed away in May of last year.
A composer, classically-trained pianist, and drummer, YOSHIKI is most well-known as the leader and co-founder of visual kei rock band, X JAPAN. Last year, he, along with Japanese rock legends, HYDE (L’Arc-en-Ciel, Vamps), SUGIZO (X Japan, Luna Sea), and MIYAVI formed THE LAST ROCKSTARS, which just concluded their sold-out world tour in L.A. in February with a simultaneous live broadcast online and at select theaters in Japan.
He’s a widely regarded entrepreneur with a kimono fashion line (YOSHIKIMONO), a Hello Kitty alter-ego based on his likeness (yoshikitty), and champagne connoisseur (Y by YOSHIKI x CHAMPAGNE POMMERY). His credits include a song celebrating the 10th anniversary of the emperor of Japan’s reign, an original music score for the Golden Globe Awards, and the theme track “Red Swan” for the cult anime series, Attack on Titan.
Currently, viewers can catch the captivating Disney+ documentary film “Yoshiki: My Music Story,” offering an intimate look into his incredible journey. For those seeking a mesmerizing musical experience, his awe-inspiring performance at Carnegie Hall, titled “Yoshiki Live at Carnegie Hall,” is now available for PBS viewers across the nation.
YOSHIKI’s creative genius extends beyond his own projects. His talent competition series, “YOSHIKI SUPERSTAR PROJECT X,” achieved remarkable success, earning the coveted #1 rank among variety shows on Hulu Japan. This triumph has set the stage for the highly anticipated debut of the sensational new boy band “XY.”
During the one-on-one conversation with host Jasen Emmons, GRAMMY Museum Chief Curator, YOSHIKI reminisced about his childhood and how his parents were instrumental in fostering his love for the arts. His father was a professional tap dancer and his mother played the shamisen, a three-stringed traditional Japanese instrument. He knew instantly he wanted to become a musician at the age of 4 when the piano was first introduced into his household, a piano that was likely due to his father’s interest in jazz and not because of some unbeknownst reason, per a revelation made during the interview. “He might have bought the piano for him… come to think of it. I didn’t realize it until this moment,” laughed YOSHIKI. Unlike most children, no coercion was needed to convince YOSHIKI to play. “I liked it,” remarked YOSHIKI. “You know, a lot of kids try at first and then… I thought…‘wow.’ I knew somehow I wanted to be a pianist even at 4, 5, 6 years old.”
Every birthday, his father would buy him a new instrument as a present. Besides the piano, YOSHIKI played the trumpet for several years before an unflattering photo his mother had taken at one of his performances convinced him to quit and changed his trajectory. After his father passed when he was 10, his mother kept the tradition alive and would purchase a new instrument every year on his birthday, that year having been a drum set. “At that time, when I lost my father, I was so emotionally lost. Very sad. At the same time, very angry,” he shared. “So I started banging drums… I knew this would be somehow a part of my life.” In a turn of fate, it was not until some 10-15 years later that YOSHIKI discovered it was actually his father’s dream to become a drummer.
In losing his father, YOSHIKI continued to find solace in his family’s own customs and music, one of which was his father’s routine each month to visit the local record store to purchase classical music vinyl. Continuing with the practice, YOSHIKI decided to drop by a music store one day with the intention to pick up another classical record, when by chance, an unusual cover caught his eye. “I just passed that section and then I saw some crazy makeup and something about ‘Love Gun.’ I don’t even know what that means!” Instead of buying what he came into the store to purchase, he came out with his first introduction to rock music: a KISS album. KISS had such an impact that, upon happening on an advertisement for their tour in a newspaper, he convinced his mother to take him to the concert, his first concert no less, at the age of 11. The rest was history. “I knew I had to become a rock star,” declared YOSHIKI.
YOSHIKI’s mother’s death was undoubtedly a difficult time for him. “When I lost my mother, I could not stop crying. I had some live TV show. I was supposed to appear, but I couldn’t stop crying… So I cancelled those… How can I stop my tears?” In his grief, he turned to what he found comfort in most: music. During this time, he poured his emotions and tears into the melody of the still unfinished classical piece, aptly titled “Requiem,” dedicated to his mother. This heartfelt, melancholy piece along with classical versions of his hits will be performed live at his upcoming tour, a concert that coalesces his love for his parents and music and a thank you to his fans and those who supported him throughout the years.
Requiem – Teaser Video
In addition to his upcoming tour, YOSHIKI revealed that X JAPAN’s first single in 8 years, “Angel,” will be released on July 28, 2023. THE LAST ROCKSTARS are also actively working on their full album. Don’t expect it anytime soon, however. “Everything I’m involved, is somehow… Takes time,” YOSHIKI chuckled, with Emmons jokingly retracting his question on when the album will come out.
The night ended with piano, string quartet, and vocal performances, sampling music that will be performed in full at his upcoming tour. Tickets for the concerts are on sale now.
Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 “Requiem”
Information: https://www.yoshiki.net/worldtour2023
Tokyo Garden Theater (Tokyo, Japan)
Performances: October 7-9, 2023
Ticket information (Japan time)
YOSHIKI Card Holder and Membership-Only Pre-Sale:
Tue. 5/16 12:00 – Sun. 5/28 23:59: Yoshiki Rakuten Card (first tier)
Mon. 5/29 12:00 – Sun. 6/4 23:59: Yoshiki Rakuten Card (second tier)
Mon. 6/5 12:00 – Sun. 6/11 23:59: Yoshiki Visa / Yoshiki MasterCard pre-sale / UDO Premium
Members
Mon. 6/12 12:00 – Sun. 6/18 23:59: Yoshiki Mobile / Yoshiki Channel / UDO Members
Mon. 6/19 12:00 – Sun. 6/25 23:59: Overseas residents / Team Yoshiki / Lawson
Sat. 7/1 15:00 – General On Sale
https://l-tike.com/yoshiki-classical/
Royal Albert Hall (London, UK)
Performance: October 13, 2023
Tickets on sale:
Thursday, May 18 at 10:00am (UK time) – Royal Albert Hall Friends & Patrons pre-sale
Friday May 19 at 10:00am (UK time) – General on sale
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2023/yoshiki
Dolby Theatre (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Performance: October 20, 2023
Tickets on sale: Tuesday, May 16 at 10:00am USA PT
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/09005EABD2E95718
Carnegie Hall – Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage (New York, NY, USA)
Performance: October 28, 2023
Tickets on sale: Tuesday, May 16 at 1:00pm USA ET
https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2023/10/28/yoshiki-classical-0800pm
YOSHIKI
YOSHIKI is a composer, classically-trained pianist, rock drummer, and the leader of the rock groups X Japan and The Last Rockstars. YOSHIKI was named “one of the most influential musicians and composers in Japanese history” by Consequence and is described by Billboard as “a musical innovator.”
His worldwide projects include a song dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the Emperor of Japan’s reign, the official theme song for the World Expo, Hollywood film soundtracks, and the official theme song for the prestigious Golden Globe Awards. Led by YOSHIKI, X Japan has sold over 30 million albums and singles and sold out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record-breaking 18 times. He was the first Asian musician to perform at the world’s greatest music halls including Madison Square Garden, Wembley Arena, and solo performances at Carnegie Hall.
In 2022, YOSHIKI’s talent competition series YOSHIKI SUPERSTAR PROJECT X with NTV became the #1 ranked variety show on Hulu Japan, leading to the upcoming debut of hot new boy band “XY”. YOSHIKI formed the rock supergroup The Last Rockstars, followed by the release of their first single and a sold-out world tour.
In addition to his music activities, he is also a fashion icon as the designer of his high-fashion kimono brand YOSHIKIMONO and the first Japanese male to appear on the cover of Vogue Japan. YOSHIKI was chosen to be the first living person to have a Hello Kitty doll named after him, called “yoshikitty”. YOSHIKI has his own Visa and
Mastercard, top-selling premium wines (with Robert Mondavi, Jr.) and Champagne (with prestigious French establishment Maison Pommery), and an exclusive energy drink collaboration with Coca-Cola Japan.
Official Website: https://www.yoshiki.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/yoshiki
0 Comments