Yoshiki has teamed up with Asahi Soft Drinks once again in their latest commercial for WONDA coffee which sees the musician animated into the world of Attack on Titan. The commercial hit Japanese television on Thursday.

Yoshiki becomes a Survey Corps member in the new commercial

The 3D CG animated commercial sees Yoshiki as a Survey Corps member who bites his hand to turn into a Titan like Eren, but the only thing he is attacking in the video is his drum kit. He treats himself to WONDA’s “Morning Shot” coffee beverage after falling over his drums.

Check out the commercial below.

WONDA x Attack on Yoshiki Coffee Cans

Limited edition cans of the Morning Shot coffee will also be sold, featuring Attack on Titan designs. Each can also has a QR code which when scanned will take you to a website to enter the serial code written on the can to win one of the Yoshiki designs as pictured below.

The final results for the 2020 Sanrio Character Ranking were announced on Tuesday, with Cinnamoroll placing number one overall. Yoshiki’s collaboration character yoshiki ranked 1st place in France, Germany, and Brasil, as well as 2nd place in China and 6th place overall. This marks the 5th year that yoshikitty has ranked in the Top 10.

yoshikitty is a character based on the X Japan band member Yoshiki. The character has proven popular around the world, with merchandise so popular it never fails to sell out.

A special “Tanita Award” was also given to yoshikitty, and to celebrate, a limited-edition yoshikitty “Digital Health Meter” will be sold on the Tanita website. Costing ¥4,400 (tax included), it is now available to order until July 31, 2020, with a limited number of 100 models available.

Yoshiki thanked yoshikitty fans around the world on his official Twitter and Instagram pages for voting and making the character place so high again this year. He also said: “I wonder if I should composed a yoshikitty theme song too to express my gratitude to everyone (haha). I want to continue delivering wonderful music to you all to repay you, even just a little. Thank you.” (translated from Japanese by MMN)

YOSHIKI has donated 10 million yen (approx. $100 million) to Japan’s National Center for Global Health and Medicine via YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA.

The National Center for Global Health and Medicine is a governmental medical institution researching infectious diseasesーincluding COVID-19ーas well as immunologic diseases, amongst other things. It is the only national polyclinic centre in Japan and has the biggest number of sickbeds in the country.

With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing the world into disorder, there are currently over 10,000 confirmed cases in Japan. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to see that Japan’s medical care is on the verge of collapse. YOSHIKI donated the money in response to this situation to help support medical workers fighting on the front lines.

YOSHIKI | Comment

In the US, where I live, there are over 40,000 cases of deaths over the novel coronavirus. And I’m saddened to hear that the infection is spreading in Japan too. I still can’t see any signs that it’s being brought under control. The entertainment industry which I live for and all the industries out there, myself included, are feeling the effects financially and mentally. It’s painful to see.

However, those we must all support the most right now in this situation are the people providing medical care to the patients affected by the coronavirus. I donated in the hopes that it can lend them strength, even if just a little.

And I hope that the thoughts of everyone worried while self-isolating now, and their actions, serves to lend strength to the people in the medical institutions a hundred timesーa thousand times more than what I donated […].

I also want to endeavour to support people as a musician too.

YOSHIKI donated $24,000 dollars to Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles last month to help support food shortages in the US. He also donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund which was created by The Recording Academy® and MusiCares© to help support struggling music artists who are having to postpone and cancel tours in response to the pandemic outbreak.

YOSHIKI has made another graceful return to Asahi Soft Drinks’ commercial series to promote its coffee beverage ‘WONDA.’ The commercial began airing in Japan on April 14, 2020.

In the previous commercial, we saw YOSHIKI’s beautiful handiwork on the piano. In the latest commercial, he takes to a golden drum set and displays his effortless skills as a drummer.

YOSHIKI throws his jacket to the side before taking his sticks in hand and getting in the zone. The messages that pop up on the commercial read, “I don’t want to make any compromises. No matter what anyone says. We will become men that never throw away commitment.”

This theme echoes with YOSHIKI too as will be seen in the behind-the-scenes video set to hit the air this Friday. YOSHIKI makes certain that the performance is perfect by having the staff retake the footage over and over as he earns rounds of applause for his performance.

Today, Japanese singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer YOSHIKI donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund through YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA, a non-profit public interest company managed by the artist himself.

The COVID-19 Relief Fund was created by The Recording Academy® and MusiCares© to help support struggling music artists who are having to postpone and cancel tours in response to the pandemic outbreak. YOSHIKI is a board member of The Recording Academy®, which is known for presenting the Grammy Awards.

YOSHIKI said: “In a time when we are being told to conduct self-control and restraint, I’m still called out by people on whether it’s best to put shows on holdーfor the benefit of fans included. The financial damage of that is of course substantial. Many different industriesーnot just the entertainment industryーare on the verge of danger, as are people of varying positions [across society]. As someone in the world of music, I would hope there would be some way of offering help to those involved in the music industry around the world, Japan included, during this difficult time, and so I have donated to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The danger of COVID-19 is a global problem, not just Japan. I pray from the bottom of my heart that this will all be over much quicker by everyone cooperating to conduct self-restraint and wait this out to lessen the spread of the virus, and that the entertainment industry can once again return to its thriving self.”

　
Steve Boom, Chairman of the Board at MusiCares, also expressed his deep gratitude to the donations which go towards relieving the burden of musicians and those involved in music. He said that everyone’s cooperation will ensure that the necessary funds and resources are there for people to continue their careers.

YOSHIKI continues to post information related to the coronavirus via his social media pages. On March 11, he interviewed Shinya Yamanaka, the director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The interview can be seen below and has English subtitles.

will.i.am posted a video on his official YouTube channel for a song entitled #SING4LIFE which features himself, U2’s Bono, and Jennifer Hudson on vocals and YOSHIKI on piano.

Bono wrote the song after being inspired by the people of Italy who, despite being isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were singing from their rooftops and balconies.

As soon as Bono wrote the song he uploaded his solo version to his Instagram page. He subsequently collaborated with will.i.am who got his longtime friend YOSHIKI on board, and Jennifer Hudson joined thereafter.

YOSHIKI answered the call to arms and wrote the score immediately, recording the piano just two hours later.

will.i.am described the song’s intention on Instagram: “When you see empty streets…The empty streets shouldn’t make you feel depressed or afraid…When you see empty streets during these times, try to feel love…The empty streets is a sign that humanity is doing the right thing.”

He continues: “There are a lot of people feeling anxiety and worry and stress…So we #SING4LIFE to lift up their spirits ..We #SING4LIFE to bring them some type of JOY during these times.”

 

この投稿をInstagramで見る

 

When you see empty streets…The empty streets shouldn’t make you feel depressed or afraid…When you see empty streets during these times, try to feel love…The empty streets is a sign that humanity is doing the right thing…We are like a school of fish or a flock of birds moving in the right direction together…and that direction is to stop the virus from spreading…So we #STAYHOME…And because the world has taken a Pause and things being cancelled, there are a lot of people that are out of work…There are a lot of people feeling anxiety and worry and stress…So we #SING4LIFE to lift up their spirits ..We #SING4LIFE to bring them some type of JOY during these times…thank you #BONO @U2 for kicking this off and writing a beautiful song…thank you @iamjhud and @yoshikiofficial for lending your talents and massive hearts… and thank you @weareparisi and @johnnygoldstein for helping produce this from your Phones and laptops from around the world…this entire song was produced from laptops while in isolation…the video was made from our Phones…thank you to all the Doctors and Nurses…thank you to all the people working at the supermarkets and pharmacy’s during this time…#SING4LIFE…

i.am/will(@iamwill)がシェアした投稿 – 2020年 3月月24日午後12時56分PDT

He also thanked his collaborators: “thank you #BONO @U2 for kicking this off and writing a beautiful song…thank you @iamjhud and @yoshikiofficial for lending your talents and massive hearts.”

 

この投稿をInstagramで見る

 

”I know you are trying hard to restrain yourself to fight against this virus. I believe that your effort… everyone’s effort, will affect the entire human race. We will overcome, we can do this together. I’m praying for your health and safety.” 皆さんも大変な思いをして、このウィルスの終息に向け、自粛をされていると思います。”一人一人の努力が人類全体を救う”と思います。一緒に頑張ろう。みんなの健康と安全を祈っています。 REPOST: @iamwill @U2 @iamjhud @yoshikiofficial #bono #u2 #iamwill #blackeyedpeas #jenniferhudson #yoshiki #xjapan #StayHome #SpreadLOVE #新型コロナウイルス #coronavirus #COVID19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz-DoaHi3zo

Yoshiki(@yoshikiofficial)がシェアした投稿 – 2020年 3月月24日午後9時21分PDT

YOSHIKI added his own comment on Instagram: “I know you are trying hard to restrain yourself to fight against this virus. I believe that your effort… everyone’s effort, will affect the entire human race. We will overcome, we can do this together. I’m praying for your health and safety.”

YOSHIKI decided to stay in Los Angeles instead of returning home to Japan due to the coronavirus outbreak. He has continued to offer his support through his social media pages to fans around the world.

Asahi Soft Drinks released a new television commercial in Japan on Tuesday for its Wonda X-BITTER black coffee drink which features Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Yoshiki.

The commercial is centred around making a fresh start, which is where Yoshiki’s own arrangement of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star comes into play. We see him abducted in a UFO in comical style and then perform his own transcendent cover of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in a forest.

As he sits in the evening forest, Yoshiki takes a sip of Wonda X-BITTER, after which a blue light shines down on him, signifying the turning of a new leaf. A boy looks at him in wonder as he begins to perform the song, and then agape as Yoshiki is beamed up by the UFO.

Yoshiki expressed his desire to add his own arrangement to the song on the day the video was shot and wrote the music score there and then. He went to practice the song alone in the studio after writing it, and in almost no time at all, returned for the main shoot. The staff couldn’t hide their astonishment at Yoshiki’s musical talent.

YOSHIKI Interview

Q: Please tell us which scene most left an impression on you, or a particular scene that you want people to look out for.
Yoshiki: Definitely the last scene when I fly up into the sky. I found that scene really amusing where I’m taken by the UFO together with the piano. The piano playing starts off super simple, but the performance quickly escalates into something complex. Be sure to check that out.

Q: Did you have to do any prep for this commercial shoot?
Yoshiki: I researched “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” I wondered, how can I make this song that everyone knows interesting? I also studied Mozart’s arrangement.

Q: What’s a time when you have to concentrate during your everyday life?
Yoshiki: It’s got to be when I’m writing music. It’s the kind of work where you make something from nothing, so you need some serious concentration skills. When I’m composing, I mostly don’t use any instruments. I work by writing music notes down on a blank sheet, so there are times when I go to concentrate for an hour, or two hours, and before I know it half the day has already gone.”

Having previously had a picture with Queen Elizabeth II, Japanese musician YOSHIKI is making more and more of an impression on the British royal family. In a recent photograph he posted on Instagram, he is seen with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. The photo was taken at a music-related charity event supported by Prince Charles to which YOSHIKI was invited as a guest. 

YOSHIKI and Prince Charles had a conversation that day. The fact that YOSHIKI wrote and performed the 10-year commemoration song for the Emperor of Japan was mentioned and Prince Charles supposedly reacted positively, stating that he would love to have YOSHIKI perform at Buckingham Palace.

YOSHIKI is making an impression on people all over the world so do not take your eyes off him for a second. 

YOSHIKI will perform as a guest act at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 11th November 2019 as part of Sarah Brightman’s world tour Hymn: Sarah Brightman In Concert.

The Royal Albert Hall is a prestigious venue which opened in 1871. It is a grand and significant building which is a key part of London history. It is also referred to by many as London’s greatest venue.

YOSHIKI has performed in many leading American performance venues such as Radio City Music Hall, New York, the San Francisco Masonic Auditorium and The Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles. He has also just performed at two live concerts held at Yokohama Arena last month! To follow, he is now going to be a guest performer at world songstress Sarah Brightman’s world tour!

YOSHIKI wrote the music and lyrics for the song Miracle performed by Brightman which was released worldwide. It is ranked in the top 10 in the iTunes classical music charts in 15 countries! The song became known as the masterpiece of her album.

The last time YOSHIKI performed in England was at X Japan Wembley Arena in 2017. X Japan’s documentary WE ARE X received lots of film festival awards in many countries. The soundtrack of this documentary reached no.1 on England’s rock charts!

In 2014, YOSHIKI held his solo concert YOSHIKI classic at the Royal Festival Hall in London. In 2015, he delighted the audience with his piano performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody at the Classic Rock Awards. He also collaborated with Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor, creating the song Foreign Sand which was ranked into the music charts in England.

Recently, YOSHIKI has been involved in writing the theme song for the movie xXx 4; the sequel to the epic movie XXX, which stars Hollywood actor Vin Diesel. He also wrote the theme song for the original film Spycies, which will be released in China countrywide.

No matter where in the world, YOSHIKI has made breathtaking contributions!

An event was held in Shanghai on January 21, 2019 for the fourth instalment of the xXx film franchise starring Vin Diesel. D.J. Caruso will return as director after having worked on the previous film, xXx: Return of Xander Cage. A TV series adaptation was also announced.

It was revealed at the event that Japanese singer-songwriter Yoshiki will score music for both the new film and the TV series.

Yoshiki revealed at a conference in Japan on January 25 that not only will he write the music he will also be one of the producers for the TV series and make a cameo in xXx 4.

The xXx series has grossed $656,539,421 worldwide. It is estimated that the fourth film will earn $182 million. Casting is currently underway for the film and production is expected to begin in early 2019.

Yoshiki wrote the theme song for the 69th Golden Globes as well as the theme for Saw 4 (2007). He is also currently working on the next X Japan album.

“Yoshiki is a great friend of ours at THC and we are incredibly proud to be working with such a talent on two movies which are both global in scope,” comments Nic Crawley, CEO of The H Collective which produces the xXx series.

YOSHIKI is set to perform two nights at Tokyo International Forum on November 12 and 15. The concert, titled YOSHIKI CLASSICAL 2018 ~ Two Violet Nights ~ YOSHIKI with Philharmonic Orchestra, will feature special guests Sarah Brightman on November 12 and HYDE on November 15.

Tickets for both nights sold out the moment they went on sale. In response to demand from fans unable to obtain a ticket, the entire concert on the 15th will be streamed live on Yoshiki’s official channel on Nico Nico Channel. Select parts from YOSHIKI’s performance with Sarah Brightman on the 12th will also be shown during the stream.

The concert will be streamed on YOSHIKI’s official YouTube channel too―which is being renewed as YOSHIKI CHANNEL International―for overseas fans. It will be available to those who pay to become a member of the channel, a new system introduced by YouTube.

YOSHIKI collaborated with Sarah Brightman on her upcoming new album Hymn which is set for worldwide release on November 9. He wrote the lyrics for and composed the song Miracle. Brightman has sold over 30 million records worldwide and has acquired over 180 gold and platinum albums in over 40 countries. She has performed at the Olympics in Barcelona and Beijing. Her song Time to Say Goodbye is one of the biggest selling singles in history.

YOSHIKI and Brightman performed Miracle to a select number of fans at Brightman’s global TV and cinema event “Extravaganza in Bavaria!” at Ludwigs Festspielhaus in Hohenschwangau, Germany on September 21. Japan will mark her first performance of the song at a real concert.

YOSHIKI performed alongside Jean Simmons of KISS at Visual Japan Summit in 2016, a visual-kei festival organised by YOSHIKI. He was also joined by Marilyn Manson at Coachella in April 2018 and Skrillex at Fuji Rock in July 2018. Now he is set to make history once again by collaborating with British soprano songstress Sarah Brightman.

He is also set to perform Red Swan―the opening theme for season three of Attack on Titan―together with HYDE on the November 15 show. It will be a special arrangement backed by a full orchestra.

Make sure you don’t miss the worldwide stream of YOSHIKI’s concert.

Attack on Titan’s season three opening theme song Red Swan by YOSHIKI feat. HYDE was released digitally worldwide on October 3 and has quickly shot to the top of the charts at home and abroad.

The second Red Swan his iTunes it shot to no.1 in the music platform’s rock charts not only in Japan but in Argentina, Mexico, Chilie and Colombia. It also clocked in at no.2 in Hong Kong, no.4 in Taiwan and no.5 in Thailand.

The song’s success can be credited not only to the fact that it’s part of one of the most popular anime series in the world but because it’s created in collaboration with two of Japan’s most celebrated artists, Yoshiki of X Japan and Hyde of L’Arc-en-Ciel. Fans have praised the song for its extremely beautiful melody, its degree of perfection and for composer Yoshiki’s ability to keep evolving and pushing the boundaries of what he can do.

Yūki Kaji, the voice actor of Attack on Titan’s protagonist Eren Jaeger, appeared on YOSHIKI CHANNEL―the most subscribed to channel on Japan’s biggest video streaming platform niconico―in celebration of the song’s release to talk about the show. Kaji has provided the voices for characters in many popular series including Shu Ouma in Guilty Crown and Meliodas in The Seven Deadly Sins.