Yoshiki (musician)

Yoshiki
林 佳樹
Yoshiki at Hollywood TCL Theatre on January 9, 2024
Born
Yoshiki Hayashi

(1965-11-20) November 20, 1965 (age 58)
Tateyama, Chiba, Japan
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
  • fashion designer
  • film director
Years active1982–present
AgentWilliam Morris Endeavor[1]
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Drums
  • piano
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
Japanese name
Kanji林 佳樹
Hiraganaはやし よしき
Transcriptions
RomanizationHayashi Yoshiki
Websiteyoshiki.net

Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki, born November 20, 1965), known as Yoshiki[5], 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.[6] He has been described by Billboard as a "musical innovator"[7] and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence.[8] Yoshiki's solo career includes several classical studio albums and collaborations with artists such as George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, the Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and KISS, Nicole Scherzinger, and Sarah Brightman.

In 1999, at the request of the Japanese royal family, 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[9][10] as well as for several anime and film soundtracks including Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary film Yoshiki: Under the Sky.

In 2023, Yoshiki 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.[11] In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree.[12]

  1. ^ "North American Contemporary Roster". William Morris Endeavor. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  2. ^ Edna Gundersen (January 1, 2013). "Globes theme by X-Japan's Yoshiki goes on sale Jan. 15". USA Today. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "X Japan Discography". Discogs. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  4. ^ "Home". Japan Music Agency Co. Yoshiki's Japanese official site
  5. ^ His stage name is officially spelled Yoshiki (not with Japanese letters) in Japanese.[4]
  6. ^ Yang, Jeff; Can, Dina; Hong, Terry (1997). Eastern Standard Time. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-395-76341-4.
  7. ^ "X Japan's Yoshiki Talks Defying Expectations, Defining Success & Delivering Timeless Music". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "X Marks the Spot: An Interview with Yoshiki (of X Japan)". Consequence of Sound. October 5, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "Yoshiki Video". Golden Globes. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  10. ^ Rao, Mallika (January 11, 2013). "Golden Globes Opening Song Explained By Yoshiki, The Japanese Superstar Who Wrote It". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  11. ^ "Yoshiki is Honored at the TCL Chinese Theatre". Spin. January 16, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (March 27, 2024). "Japanese Rock Star Yoshiki on New Documentary and Fashion: 'The Fans Are the Reason I'm Still Here'". Variety. Retrieved March 27, 2024.