Yoshiki

Yoshiki is an internationally acclaimed composer, classically-trained pianist, rock drummer, film director, and fashion designer, leading the rock groups X Japan and The Last Rockstars. After X Japan’s second album, ‘Blue Blood,’ released in 1989, charted for over 100 weeks and earned the 1990 ‘Grand Prix New Artist of the Year,’ Yoshiki became a leading music figure. He founded Extasy Records in 1986, with X Japan subsequently selling out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome multiple times. Yoshiki’s artistry expanded with his classical solo album, ‘Eternal Melody,’ in 1993, notably produced by The Beatles’ producer George Martin.

In 2015, Yoshiki debuted his Yoshikimono fashion line at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo. He founded the Visual Japan Summit rock festival in 2016 and performed two sold-out classical concerts at Carnegie Hall in 2017. His anime work included composing ‘Red Swan’ for ‘Attack on Titan’ (2018) and a sold-out Yoshiki Classical concert series. In 2020, Yoshiki collaborated on ‘#SING4LIFE’ with Bono, Will.i.am, and Jennifer Hudson; his photobook ‘XY’ sold out, ranking number one.

Time magazine named Yoshiki one of the Most Influential People of 2025. Yoshiki established Yoshiki Foundation America in 2010, notably donating $500,000 for the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.