“Then, I realized there was no need to suppress my feelings in music. Music is wonderful. I want to help others, too, and give back to music.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.washingtonpost.com
- #corroborated
Figure timeline
Yoshiki
Yoshiki Hayashi , known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer. He is best known as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, for which he is the drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential c…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
business · Japanese musician (born 1965) · drummer · pianist · singer-songwriter · record producer · composer · music arranger · lyricist · fashion designer · keyboardist · businessperson · also Yoshiki, Yoshiki (musician), YOSHIKI, Yoshiki Hayashi
Born 20 November 1965 · Q311193
81 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
9 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
s debut as a film director. Premieres in New York, London, and Los Angeles were also announced. The film received positive reviews for its performances, production values, editing, and positive themes from Revolver, Spin, Total Film, and other publications. On August 4, the Last Rockstars released their second single,
76%WikipediaSource
2026· 16 entries
“s debut as a film director. Premieres in New York, London, and Los Angeles were also announced. The film received positive reviews for its performances, production values, editing, and positive themes from Revolver, Spin, Total Film, and other publications. On August 4, the Last Rockstars released their second single,”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
BroadwayWorld: Diana Ross and YOSHIKI's Rare Live Duet Surfaces Online
- #news
- #headline
Published video “Diana Ross feat. YOSHIKI – If We Hold On Together | Live Performance! #DianaRoss #yoshiki”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Diana Ross feat. YOSHIKI – If We Hold On Together | Live Performance!”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Freak On A Leash - YOSHIKI and Jonathan Davis at Walt Disney Concert Hall - YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2026”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Freak On A Leash-YOSHIKI & Jonathan Davis of Korn at Walt Disney Concert Hall-YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2026”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “【Public Broadcast】YOSHIKI | Exclusive Live Interview the Day After the Los Angeles Concerts”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “【一般公開】米LAの名門ウォルト・ディズニー・コンサートホールで2夜ソールドアウトの快挙『YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2026 IN LOS ANGELES』公演翌日に独占インタビュー”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Yahoo: Watch Jonathan Davis and Yoshiki perform orchestra-backed version of Korn classic Freak On A Leash
- #news
- #headline
Published video “Merci, Paris 🇫🇷 YOSHIKI just arrived in LA - next stop Walt Disney Concert Hall debut tomorrow”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “【一般公開】YOSHIKI、欧州最大級の日本文化イベント「Japan Expo Paris 2026」25周年記念ステージに特別出演 パリから緊急生放送 コンサート・インタビューを独占生中継”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “【Public Broadcast】YOSHIKI Live from Paris | Japan Expo Paris 2026”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Forbes: Rock Icon Yoshiki Is Just Getting Started With Walt Disney Concert Hall
- #news
- #headline
Published video “Forever Love by X JAPAN - Official Music Video”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Yoshiki performed "Endless Rain" on stage with Josh Groban at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo, which Groban sang in Japanese
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2025· 3 entries
Was invited to perform onstage with the Jonas Brothers to perform a piano rendition of "Fly With Me"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Rolling Stone: Yoshiki On Why He Formed Girl Group Bi-ray: “Their Talent Is Too Strong Not To Be Involved.”
- #news
- #headline
Awarded Time 100 (2025).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2024· 2 entries
The Hollywood Reporter: Yoshiki to Compose Theme Song for Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary (Exclusive)
- #news
- #headline
Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2023· 8 entries
BroadwayWorld: YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY Music Doc Gets North America Distribution
- #news
- #headline
Yoshiki received the MAMA Award for Favorite International Artist and performed "Endless Rain" with Tomorrow x Together's Taehyun and Hueningkai, Boynextdoor's Jaehyun, Riize's Anton, and Zerobaseone's Han Yujin
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Yoshiki announced his classical world tour at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, titled "Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 “Requiem"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Yoshiki gave the keynote address at Stanford University's conference on "The Future of Social Tech"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Yahoo: Yoshiki, glam-rocker responsible for 'changing Japan's culture,' eyes U.S. stardom with supergroup the Last Rockstars: 'It's kind of cool to break some kind of boundary again'
- #news
- #headline
Was selected as the first Japanese artist to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in nearly 100 years
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 “Requiem”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
2021· 2 entries
Won Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (2021).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
loudwire: Yoshiki to Provide $100K Annual Grant to Support MusiCares Mental Health Efforts
- #news
- #headline
2020· 1 entry
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2019· 2 entries
Yoshiki appeared as the featured pianist on Hyde's single "Zipang"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
“s Hymn World Tour in 2019 in selected cities in the US and Japan. On New Year”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
2018· 3 entries
Yoshiki collaborated with Skrillex for performances of "Endless Rain" and "Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" at Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata, Japan
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Readers and professional musicians voted Yoshiki the best drummer and the best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Performed in the long-running 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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2016· 2 entries
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Embarked on another classical world tour, with performances in Tokyo and Osaka, 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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2014· 3 entries
loudwire: X Japan’s Yoshiki Plays ‘Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?’
- #news
- #headline
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Yoshiki teamed with the Recording Academy in 2014 for a private dinner to raise money for the GRAMMY Foundation
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2013· 4 entries
Noisecreep: X Japan’s Yoshiki Goes Classical for Intimate Los Angeles Performance
- #news
- #headline
The third classical studio album Yoshiki Classical was released
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Yoshiki Classical”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Yoshiki's figure was moved to the Tokyo location
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2012· 1 entry
Yoshiki composed the theme song for the 69th Golden Globe Awards, 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 Hol
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2010· 2 entries
Yoshiki founded Yoshiki Foundation America, a California non-profit, public benefit corporation with tax-exempt status as a section 501(c)3
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Yoshiki with Toshi appeared and performed at Japan Expo in Paris on July 4
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2009· 1 entry
Contributed the theme song "Blue Sky Heaven" for the 30th anniversary of a Nippon Television program, and for the Japanese historical fantasy film Goemon he wrote the Violet UK song "Rosa", which was released on April
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2007· 4 entries
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
At a Catacombs preview in Japan, it was announced that Yoshiki would be producing the 2008 rock musical Repo
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
At the Anime Expo in Long Beach, all activities were stopped
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Which was organized by Yoshiki, it was announced that Miyavi was joining
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2006· 1 entry
Yoshiki appeared at the Otakon convention on August 6, where it was publicly announced that he would be forming a band named S
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2005· 2 entries
Released album “ETERNAL MELODY Ⅱ”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
A second classical solo album titled Eternal Melody II was released on March 23
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2004· 1 entry
Helped produce the South Korean rock band the TRAX, and his composition "Tears" was used as the theme song for the film Windstruck, becoming the first Japanese song to be featured in a Korean film after World War II
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2003· 1 entry
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2002· 1 entry
Released album “Yoshiki Symphonic Concert 2002”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2000· 1 entry
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1999· 2 entries
A celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement was held at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, for which Yoshiki composed and performed the song "Anniversary" at the request of the Imperial fami
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
At the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration in honor of the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1997· 2 entries
Making it the last of five consecutive New Year's Eve shows in that stadium
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Toshi decided to leave the band, claiming the success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1995· 1 entry
In response to the Kobe earthquake, Yoshiki held 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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1994· 2 entries
Yoshiki worked with Queen drummer Roger Taylor on a song he composed, "Foreign Sand", for which Roger wrote the lyrics
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
It was the 35th annual best-selling single and won the "Excellence award" at the 36th Japan Record Awards
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1993· 3 entries
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Released album “Eternal Melody”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
Yoshiki and his band X Japan created the first music video OVA (original video animation) in collaboration with manga collective Clamp and animation studio Madhouse
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1992· 1 entry
Bought a recording studio complex in North Hollywood, California, US
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1991· 2 entries
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
When Yoshiki was recording in his studio, initially doing sessions with Mick Karn and Jane Child, but it was postponed
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1990· 1 entry
The band received the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th Japan Gold Disc Awards
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1989· 1 entry
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
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1987· 1 entry
The band participated in an audition held by CBS/Sony which led to a recording contract in August of the following year
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1986· 1 entry
Yoshiki founded his own independent record label, Extasy Records, in order to distribute the band's music
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1982· 1 entry
Yoshiki and Toshi formed a new band, which they named X while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1965· 2 entries
In Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, as the elder of two brothers in a musically oriented family
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Born 1965-11-20.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth