YOSHIKI — composer, classically trained pianist, rock drummer, and leader of rock group X JAPAN — accepted an invitation to meet with the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo on September 13, 2018, conducting the 90-minute conference entirely in English for the room filled to capacity by foreign news agencies stationed in Japan.

YOSHIKI fielded questions about the international success of the X JAPAN documentary film We Are X, X JAPAN’s upcoming album, and his emergency neck surgery last year. When discussing his friendship and collaborations with world-famous artists, such as his co-appearance with Marilyn Manson at Coachella or with Skrillex at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, he surprised reporters by revealing his upcoming collaboration with superstar soprano Sarah Brightman.

Sarah Brightman’s upcoming album HYMN will include a new recording of YOSHIKI’s composition “Miracle” and a piano performance by YOSHIKI. YOSHIKI was invited by Brightman to collaborate on “Miracle” for the new album, placing YOSHIKI in the company of her distinguished list of past musical collaborators, including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ennio Morricone.

“It’s the number one masterpiece on the album,” explains Sarah Brightman. “It has elements of Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ and I’m very excited about it. Yoshiki has so much talent.” YOSHIKI will join Brightman for a special TV performance and cinema taping at Festspielhaus Füssen, one of Europe’s most modern musical theaters, on Friday, September 21, in Germany.

When reporters at the conference asked the personal question, “What would you like to accomplish in your life?”, YOSHIKI responded: “I would like to change the musical world map. Before, Asia was not considered part of this map at all. I respect Western music, but I would like to establish Asia’s presence on this map as equal with the rest of the world.”

VIDEO: YOSHIKI – FCCJ Full Press Conference

YOSHIKI also revealed that he had arrived in Japan on the same plane as tennis player Naomi Osaka, who was returning from the United States after her victory in the U.S. Open. YOSHIKI joked that when he saw all the reporters at the airport, he thought that his press conference might have begun early, but he was able to leave unnoticed because of Osaka’s popularity. The room of reporters responded with loud laughter, and YOSHIKI added, “I watched the game when I was in America. She played wonderfully.”

Reporters also asked YOSHIKI about his continued charity work through his own organization Yoshiki Foundation America. The organization recently donated ¥10 million to those affected by the 2018 Japan floods, and another ¥10 million to those affected by the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake. YOSHIKI also made a donation during the broadcast of “24 Hour Television” where he performed with a young blind boy whose dream is to become a drummer.

When asked why he does places so much effort into charity, YOSHIKI expressed his wish that charity would become as common in Japan as it is in America, where he currently resides. “Helping others helps me find a reason to live. Many prominent figures in America are doing it, and I want such circles of support to spread more in Japan.”

YOSHIKI also revealed that he will perform two classical concerts in Japan this November.
“YOSHIKI CLASSICAL ~Two Violet Nights~ YOSHIKI with Philharmonic Orchestra”, scheduled for November 12th and 15th at Tokyo International Forum, will be YOSHIKI’s first classical concerts since his two back-to-back sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall in January 2017.

YOSHIKI will perform famous pieces that influenced his music, as well as various compositions he produced, including “Anniversary”, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Japanese Emperor’s reign, I’ll Be Your Love,” the official theme song of the 2005 World Expo, and the “Golden Globes Theme” composed for the 69th Golden Globe Awards.

In 2013, he released the album YOSHIKI CLASSICAL worldwide, which debuted at #1 on the Classical Music charts in 10 countries. For his first classical concert tour in 2014, “YOSHIKI CLASSICAL WORLD TOUR 2014″, YOSHIKI toured 10 countries and gave a total of 13 performances (Costa Mesa, San Francisco, Mexico City, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, and Osaka).

VIDEO: YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2018 ~Two Violet Nights~ YOSHIKI with Philharmonic Orchestra

YOSHIKI is currently preparing for X JAPAN’s largest live concert since 2010, “X JAPAN LIVE IN JAPAN 2018 THREE DEEP RED NIGHTS AT MAKUHARI MESSE”, taking place over 3 days, September 28-30, for 100,000 fans.

When asked by reporters about his never-ending drive as an artist when other artists are retiring, YOSHIKI replied, “When I die, I can retire,” adding “My father gave up, but I will keep pushing as much as I can,” declaring he will keep breaking walls to go forward.

YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2018 ~Two Violet Nights~ YOSHIKI with Philharmonic Orchestra
Venue: Tokyo International Forum
Concert Dates:
November 12th (Monday) – Doors open 18:00 / Start 19:00 p.m.
November 15th (Thursday) – Doors open 18:00 / Start 19:00 p.m.

X JAPAN LIVE IN JAPAN 2018 THREE DEEP RED NIGHTS AT MAKUHARI MESSE
Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 1-3, Chiba, Japan
Concert Dates:
September 28 (Friday) – Doors open 16:30 / Start 18:30
September 29 (Saturday) – Doors open 16:00 / Start 18:00
September 30 (Sunday) – Doors open 15:00 / Start 17:00

YOSHIKI Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial/
YOSHIKI Official Website:http://www.yoshiki.net/

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