Voted one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, and the first Japanese artist to have his handprints and footprints imprinted at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Yoshiki will be performing a special concert at Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, on 20th November, the date of his own birthday.
This will be his first international show since undergoing his third neck operation, and he commented: conference, “As many of you may know, I underwent neck surgery last October and am currently undergoing careful rehabilitation. I was still considering how to proceed with my concert activities, so honestly, I was hesitant when I received this offer. However, I decided to go ahead with the concert because I felt that this performance had great significance and could potentially lead to future exchanges between Japan and Saudi Arabia. I am extremely honoured and excited to be able to perform at such a historic venue. I owe it all to my fans.” He spoke passionately, expressing his excitement for his concert, which began with a special offer from Saudi Arabia and was realised after over a year of negotiations.
A leading Japanese composer, pianist and drummer (notably with the rock bands X Japan and The Last Rockstars) he has sold out prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. This upcoming show will be unique and unlike any other in the world, where guests will experience a blend of rock and classical music, in a setting surrounded by historical ruins.
The performance, entitled Hegra Candlelit Classics, will take place on a stage lit by thousands of candles, with ancient tombs built approximately 2,000 years ago, as its backdrop. Also appearing on the first half of the show will be Grammy-nominated, world-renowned trumpet player Ibrahim Maalouf, who has captivated audiences at festivals around the world.
Further details about the event can be found here.
Yoshiki has also partnered with fellow Time magazine listed contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara – The latter being a passionate fan of punk rock, they bonded over shared artistic values and a mutual love of wine, resulting in Y by Yoshiki × Yoshitomo Nara Collaboration Wine.
“I’ve admired Yoshiki’s extraordinary success in music for years, but what struck me most when we met was his honesty and authenticity,” said Nara. “He’s someone I can truly trust. Above all, his wines are remarkable—absolutely delicious. The idea that my artwork would appear on his label made me incredibly excited, and ultimately led me to join this project. Even the bottle cap carries a small illustration, which is rare in the wine world. Of course, there was great pressure: how much artistic value could I bring to something that already had a perfected taste? After countless discussions, I’m proud that we are finally ready to share this with the world.”
While entrepreneur Yoshiki commented: “When I first met Nara, I never dreamed we would collaborate on this scale. To create something together with an artist I deeply respect feels like a dream come true. I’m convinced this will become one of the most important projects of my career. Every wine in this collaboration represents the pinnacle of Y by Yoshiki. I can’t wait for people around the world to experience them.”
