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Las week, Typhoon Faxai took an unusual path over Japan. Instead of making landfall on the southwestern side of the country and hitting the islands of Kyushu or Shikoku, like most typhoons do, Faxai rumbled right over the Tokyo area, with Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo’s neighbor to the east, getting hit particularly hard.
Injuries, thankfully, were not extensive, but some Chiba communities suffered severe infrastructure damage, with extended, wide-scale blackouts occurring. While all this was taking place, legendary J-rock musician and X Japan leader Yoshiki was far away, on the other side of the Pacific in the U.S., but his thoughts were with the people of Chiba, and for a very personal reason, as he explained in this tweet on Sept 11.
“I am in the U.S. now. I just found out that my hometown of Tateyama, Chiba, and places across the prefecture, have been greatly damaged by the typhoon. I am very worried and praying that Chiba will recover as quickly as possible.”
However, Yoshiki realizes that no amount of thoughts and prayers is going to get people’s electricity running again, and so he’s also put his money where his heart is. On Sept 18, Yoshiki’s U.S.-based charitable nonprofit organization, the Yoshiki Foundation America, announced that the musician has made a 10 million-yen donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society, to be used for recovery aid for typhoon-stricken parts of Chiba.
The generous gesture follows two other large donations Yoshiki made in August of this year: 10 million yen to victims of the Kyoto Animation arson attack, and $100,000 to Earth Alliance in response to the Amazon rainforest wildfires. He also gave 10 million yen to relief efforts following typhoons in Japan last year.
According to the donation’s announcement, Yoshiki had not publicly revealed his hometown until now (though some fans seem to have had already figured it out), but decided to let his Tateyama roots be known in hopes of attracting more support for the city following the typhoon. “I have been based overseas for many years as part of my ongoing projects,”said Yoshiki, “but my feelings for my hometown have never faded. I am sorry that this is the only thing I can do to help. I hope my donation can be of some small help, and I am praying for Chiba’s recovery.”
Downplaying the generosity of a 10 million-yen donation might seem like a strange thing to do, but it’s entirely in character for a guy who once wrote a formal apology for his scarf’s behavior, as well as someone who, even though his passions have taken him around the world, has never forgotten where he came from.
Source: PR Times via Livedoor News/Oricon News via Jin
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-- J-rock king Yoshiki meets U.K.’s Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace【Photos】
© SoraNews24
16 Comments
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Chip Star
Much respect.
BeerDeliveryGuy
In the past he also donated instruments, including his signature glass piano to high schools around Chiba.
DaDude
Yoshiki is the man and always looks out for others in need. Great guy!
Bugle Boy of Company B
Awesome is as awesome does!
Mocheake
Good deed once again by Yoshiki. One question: was THAT picture really the only one available? A picture of the devastation in Tateyama would have gone a longer way in showing what he is trying to help.
Vince Black
Dude looks like a lady, but one hell of a drummer and nice guy!
presto345
Thank you Yoshiki. Sharing and caring, you set an example and hopefully others will follow.
Patricia Yarrow
Beautiful photo and beautiful gesture.
Bugle Boy of Company B
His drumming is a real pain in the neck. (Real fans will know...)
Jimizo
Good lad
starpunk
I don't know much about this star but does he come from the 'glam/glitter' tradition of glam punk, punk rock, glam metal or similar styles? Glam rocker David Bowie did try the androgynous/'gender bender' look during his Ziggy Stardust days. Then you have Annie Lennox. Just saying.
Anyway, donating all that yen and instruments is a very noble gesture from a star like this. Nice guy alright.
Does it compare to Phil Collins' wild playing style? I've seen him do that at a Genesis concert in 1992.
Toasted Heretic
Thank you, Yoshiki.
BeerDeliveryGuy
If Phil Collins drums hard enough to cause a spinal hernia that doctors described as “something that would happen to a football player or traffic accident victim,” then yes.
starpunk
40 years of drumming caused Phil to have to get pins in his spinal chord. He can't drum or play any instrument anymore, and he can't dance now either. However he is back to touring because he just loves to entertain people. He's been playing in north America for over a year to sold out gigs.
I saw Phil in concert solo last fall and all he did was sit on his fanny and heartfully sing for 2.5 hours straight. But at least he's doing what he enjoys and can do - entertain. And we're all happy for that.
If Yoshiki isn't careful he could wind up the same way too, or maybe not.
BeerDeliveryGuy
Although, I’ve never seen Phil live, spinal injuries seem to be common among drummers. If I remember correctly, the drummer from Poison also has spinal damage from drumming too hard.
starpunk
Rikki Rocket? Didn't know that. I wouldn't be surprised. All those decades of drumming have led to Neil Peart getting hip and leg injuries, and Alex Lifeson's hand and foot damage from all his guitar playing (and pedals too) have to led to the breakup last year of one of rock's most innovative bands, RUSH.