Interview: Yoshiki

Gene Simmons once said that if X Japan sang in English, they might have been the biggest band in the world. Popularity and metrics aside, few artists alive today boast a work ethic as industrious as X Japan’s leader and driving force: Yoshiki Hayashi.

Now 57, the Tateyama-born musician’s career spans four creatively charged decades. Be it X Japan, his dynamic solo work, or the plethora of artistic projects he continues to explore. Yoshiki recently made his directorial debut in the feature-length documentary, Yoshiki: Under The Sky, and the ongoing Requiem world tour—featuring an orchestra—marks the tenth anniversary of his album Yoshiki Classical.

Yoshiki spoke to Reader’s Digest ahead of his performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Yoshiki: I feel very grateful to be me, but at the same time, it’s not easy. First of all, I work very hard and dedicate most of my life to this artistic journey. Also, I’ve been surrounded by death. My father, my band members, then my mother last year. But I feel very grateful to have amazing fans to support me.

Y: If music had not been around, I don’t think I would have made it. Whatever the feeling, if I’m confused, angry, or sad, I just compose music and transform it into melodies.

Y: Good question [laughs]. When I have downtime, I play piano! I don’t know where to draw the line between resting and working.

Y: I want my fans to know that artists exist because of them, and that we are also here for you. It’s kind of a cliché but music can unite people. Music is very powerful.

Y: It was so hard after losing my mother. I couldn’t stop crying and had to go see a doctor. I had to cancel a lot of things. But I’m a composer, so I thought I might as well create the saddest song I could write. The tears started subsiding a little bit. I still cry a lot, but all my tears can become melodies.

Y: Pretty much every single song. The reason I started playing rock was my father’s death. He took his own life when I was young. Before that I was playing classical music.

Y: I think so, but at that time becoming a rock star in Japan was not realistic. Especially after my father died, the teachers at school would ask me what I wanted to become, and I said “rock star”. They were so mad, but I kept saying it!

Y: I think so. I’ve played the Royal Albert Hall before but as a guest player. It’s always challenging. My classical career started when I composed and performed for the Emperor of Japan. Since then, classical music has become a big part of my life.

Y: Every single project is very close to me. If I feel that something is realistic and I can put my passion into it, I will do it. But put it this way, 99 per cent [of the time] I’m declining things.

Y: I’m quite shocked. How do I deserve this? I don’t feel like I’ve achieved something yet. Maybe I’ll receive it for my fans. They are the ones supporting me. Without fans, I’m nothing.

Y: My mother did an amazing job, but growing up without my father was not easy. In every aspect of my life, I always had some kind of pain not having a father. I wanted to support causes for unfortunate kids, so I started doing charity work. Helping people actually helps me. It gives me a reason, like I’m allowed to keep living and breathing in this world.

Y: I don’t know. I just need to keep on rocking!