By Ericka Puyat

On May 15, critically-acclaimed Japanese rock musician YOSHIKI held a private press conference at the famed Grammy Museum in Los Angeles to announce his upcoming classical world tour and two new singles.

YOSHIKI — composer, classically-trained pianist, rock drummer, and leader of rock bands X JAPAN and THE LAST ROCKSTARS — is set to become the first Japanese artist to headline iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall as part of his highly anticipated Yoshiki Classical 10th Anniversary World Tour with Orchestra 2023 “REQUIEM.” The groundbreaking classical tour is in celebration of the 10th anniversary of his third classical studio album, Yoshiki Classical, topping No.1 on iTunes Classical charts in 10 countries. The tour kicks off in October at the Tokyo Garden Theater (Tokyo), followed by performances at the Royal Albert Hall (London), Dolby Theater (L.A.), and Carnegie Hall (New York). Fans can expect new compositions, orchestral performances from his chart-topping songs from X JAPAN and his new projects, and classical pieces by famed Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. Several special guest performers will also be announced in the coming weeks.

“REQUIEM” Composed by YOSHIKI

Before the start of the tour, YOSHIKI will release his latest single, “Requiem,” on July 21st. Addressing U.S. and international media at the press conference, YOSHIKI shared that the song is an homage to his late mother. “Last year in May I lost my mother. At that time, I couldn’t do anything. I had to cancel my live TV shows, and I actually went to see a doctor,” he confessed. “ The tears kept coming for days. Then I started composing this song called ‘Requiem.’ I thought I should move forward, I shouldn’t give up. To move forward and to really thank my fans who supported me, I decided to do this tour.”

In addition to the classical world tour and his solo single announcement, YOSHIKI was also proud to announce that X JAPAN will be making their long-awaited return with a new single. Titled “Angel,” the song will be released on July 28th and marks the legendary band’s first new song in eight years. As one of Japan’s most influential rock bands, X JAPAN’s reunion is sure to elicit excitement among its dedicated fan base.

THE LAST ROCKSTARS AT THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM

After the press conference, YOSHIKI held an intimate Q&A and live performance with the press, his fans, and industry colleagues. Joined by a string quartet and vocal support from singers Beverly and Ashley, YOSHIKI performed his classical renditions of X JAPAN’s iconic hits “Tears,” “Miracle,” and “Endless Rain”; SixTONES’ “Imitation Rain”; his and HYDE’s collaboration track “Red Swan”; and even live teasers of “Angel” and “Requiem” ahead of their respective releases.

Fans can look forward to hearing these songs and more live at the upcoming classical world tour. As YOSHIKI continues to redefine the boundaries of music, his groundbreaking endeavors reinforce his status as a global pioneer and an inspiration to artists across all genres.