YOSHIKI

Person · Male

YOSHIKI

co-founder of the visual kei rock band X Japan

From
Tateyama, Japan
Since
1965–present
Rating
★ 4 (2 votes)
Releases
12
  • rock
  • visual kei

About

Yoshiki Hayashi (Japanese: 林 佳樹, Hepburn: Hayashi Yoshiki; born November 20, 1965), 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 composers in Japanese history" by Consequence. Time labeled Yoshiki as "an absolute force" and "one of Japan's most celebrated musicians". 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, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban.

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In 1999, 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. Yoshiki also composed the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards 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 2018, 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". In 2023, he 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. In 2024, Variety selected Yoshiki as the International Achievement in Music honoree. Time named Yoshiki one of the most influential people of 2025 in their Time 100 list.

From Yoshiki (musician) on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Member of

  • X JAPAN 1982–1997, 2007–now drums (drum set), piano
  • Violet UK 2005–now drums (drum set), guitar, keyboard, piano
  • S.K.I.N. 2006–now drums (drum set), piano
  • THE LAST ROCKSTARS 2022–now drums (drum set), piano

Discography

Albums 2
Singles 7
Live 2
Compilations 1

Links

Collaboration

Instrumental supporting musician

Also known as

Yoshiki and The American Symphony Orchestra · ゲイリー・ヨシキ · ゲーリー・ヨシキ · ヨシキ · 五十嵐 美由姫 · 五十嵐美由姫 · 林 佳樹 · 林佳樹 · 橘 朋実 · 橘朋実 · 橘朋美 · 白鳥 瞳 · 白鳥瞳 · 白鳥麗 · 白鳥龍 · 立花香流

Identifiers

ISNI
0000000053538470
IPI
00167761048
IPI
00170210618
IPI
00579028615

Data from MusicBrainz, saved 9 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.