Yoshiki Hayashi (X Japan): «We have a common dream»
In the last days of January, the leader of the cult Japanese band X Japan, composer and multi-instrumentalist Yoshiki Hayashi made a press tour across Russia. His fourth visit to Moscow and the first – to St. Petersburg, took place in terms of Cross Year of Russia and Japan, and was associated with the all-Russian premiere of two films.
The first of these films – «We Are X» (in our box offices – «We are X Japan») was already shown a year and a half ago at the Moscow Beat Film Festival. This dramatic, beautifully shot and edited, richly illustrated film, with Yoshiki’s original music was warmly met by the audience. At the same music festival in Moscow, the movie «SOS Sailor» was presented, telling about round-the-world trip of the Russian band «Mumiy Troll» in search of international recognition. And so, in 2018, two films about rock bands on both sides of the Pacific Ocean were presented at a press show in both Russian capitals, thanks to the project CINEMA EMOTION and the leader of the Mumiy Troll band Ilya Lagutenko. On February 16, these two films started their way Russian screens.
Our interview with Yoshiki took place on the day of his arrival in Moscow, unexpectedly frosty and snowy for him, a resident of always warm Los Angeles.
So you’ve come with a very important purpose – transcribing your movie here. This year 2018 is going to be very crucial in terms of Russian and Japanese relationships. So the question is: are you going to perform anything else apart from this film here this time?
This year? I don’t know yet! I’m still trying to figure out how can I do it, because you know last May I had neck surgery. I had putted art show disk into my neck. So it was my second surgery, before I cut back of my neck and calf between bones, this time it’s artificial disk into my neck from the front. So doctor told me I can play piano but no more drums, but my main thing is to play drums. But I’m still trying to figure out how hard I can play or how long I can play. So we were talking to the agent – one show already booked was Coachella festival this coming April, so that’s confirmed. We are talking about world tour as of now but we’ll see, it depends on how my body is going to recover. So we’ll going to know this in next few months.
How do you feel now? Have you recovered?
Still not feeling right. But … I’m ok! It’s hard to sleep like in certain position still…
On the New Years’ Eve you were drumming on the show. How did you feel?
It was just one song, not even full. It was a very popular TV show I had to play. That was 3 minutes or something. So it was ok. Not such a big deal. On actual show I have to play few hours, so I don’t know what’s going happen. Worse come to worst again. I don’t know.
So let’s talk about the film. Have you seen Ilya’s version of the film yet?
Not yet. Have you?
No, unfortunately. So you met Ilya a year and a half ago here in Moscow. Are you still in touch with him?
Yes-yes, I organized Rock festival Visual Japan Summit in Japan, October 2016. So I had 15 or something bands performed. Ilya and Mumiy Troll also joined the festival. Then we hang out, we’ve been drinking in Japan, Tokyo. And we’ve seen each other sometimes in Los Angeles. We became very good friends.
The director of this film Stephen Kijak had two main purposes. The one is the film should be nominated for Oskar. And the second one – the audience should be exited and thrilled about this film. Did he manage to meet these goals?
The film was selected for big Sundance Film Festival, where we got best editing for documentary film. Although we could not get to Oskar, but the film is still spreading throughout the world and I get positive reactions from people who watch it. Especially people who didn’t know who X Japan was start listening to the music so I think he achieved both goals.
I know that you sometimes watch the film together with the audience, so what for now? Are you going to watch it today?
I wish I could but I’m having an interview, right? During that time. Actually once in Japan I sneaked into one theatre, it was full of audience, people had zero idea. I was in glasses and everything so that nobody could recognize me. So I was watching…
The hot question to come – it’s about your album, which you are working on. But are you going to release anything else? Maybe some singles or some videos from 2017 acoustic tour?
Good idea! Yeah, why not? So finishing album is a very big job. As soon as album is done I’m going to do lots of other things I hope so.
Last time you were speaking about making the second part of this film and you were considering maybe including some funny things, some jokes. Have you done anything?
I’m always filming. So we may do a sequel. I don’t know… You know I’m trying to finish recording the album at the moment. I put my entire energy to that. Besides from making a film here, yeah…
One show I also did last year was Carnegie Hall. I played with Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, that recording is almost being edited. I think it’s gonna be on American TV show. Also last year X Japan played Wembley Arena show in London. A part of that show was edited to the song called «La Venus», it’s going to be Wembley show version of «La Venus». It’s almost now… When we finish the album you’ll see that video as well.
This time you are not staying only here in Moscow; you are also going to Saint Petersburg, aren’t you? Saint Petersburg is considered to be the cultural capital of Russia. So have you lined up any cultural events like going to the Hermitage or some other museums?
I’d like to! I’ve heard a lot of great things about Saint Petersburg… Is it warmer?
All: No! It’s colder!
By the way do you have any warm jacket to put on?
I’ve been shopping before I came here. Because I live in Los Angeles. There you don’t wear any warm clothes. In Moscow staying outside for one minute I got frozen. It’s so cold! When I came here hotel people told me go outside, it’s beautiful! But it’s so cold… But it’s so beautiful. I came for my fourth time here in Moscow, I never came here in January, it was in summertime or spring or fall. Something like that. It’s cold.
Recently you have appeared on the «Vogue» magazine cover. How was the process of shooting and what did that experience mean to you?
Ok. That photo shoot took place like 2 weeks after my neck surgery, so I cannot even move it. I just got out of the wheel chair. I’ve done like 5000 magazine covers before, but I never did Vogue cover and they asked for Japanese male for Vogue cover – why now?
The shoot was in New York and I was in LA, so I asked my doctor can I fly, he said not yet. But I could not drive there so he kind of said yes, so I flew to New York. My front neck was bleeding from surgery. So that they had to do photoshop. I couldn’t turn around, I couldn’t turn my body. It was very hard but at the same time it was amazing make-up artist, amazing stylist, amazing photographer. It was so professional so somehow I made it.
I shall pay a complement for you – as far I know this magazine cover inspired many editors and chiefs here in Russia.
Oh, thank you! Yes, since this cover came I was asked to do a lot of fashion magazine too.
What about your designed Yoshikimono?
Yes, my kimono line… I did the finale for Tokyo Fashion week 2015-2016. And I did the opening for Tokyo Fashion week last year. So I think I’m gonna doing Fashion week after Japan so I was talking about several Fashion weeks in Europe. It’s gonna be happening either this coming fall or next spring.
Today is HYDE’s birthday so have you congratulated him yet?
We became kind of close. We are having a dinner just two of us every few months. I just instagramed a picture. I guess he is in LA right now so I’m going to call him later.
You have been into producing for quite a while and you had such project called Lady’s X – are there any news about it?
Yes. That’s a kind of collaboration between some Japanese TV stations that we are doing together. I think we have pretty much decided everything on the players. Maybe one position might be still hanging. But that too – I just have to finish recording X Japan’s new album. As soon as it’s done I’m gonna be doing more things, also working with Marilyn Manson and I hope I will have more time to work on this project as well.
Let’s presume very that talented Russian musicians would like to show something to you which they have done. Is that possible for them?
Of course! Who is that?
Some acquaintance of mine. He wants to record an album and show it to you.
Sure! Yeah!
Are you going to write music for the Olympics 2020?
I don’t know! I don’t know.
Last time you mentioned that apart from wine Y by Yoshiki you would like to make some vodka. Are there any new on this field?
I just came from the meeting about creating vodka that was few days ago in LA. So I think it’s gonna be happening very soon. I’m a huge fan of vodka. But it needs to be Russian, right? Russian vodka is the best!
Last time you mentioned that you’d like to speak Russian a little bit more because you mentioned two words – koshka (a cat) and sobaka (a dog). Have you come further in studying Russian?
Yoshiki, literally, falls from laughing, then with dignity says: Spasibo.
Stephen, the director of the film, said that he was very surprised by how many people are personal assistants for you in making a film for example – from 5 to 20 people. How many helpers do you need to come to Russia and still feel comfortable here?
Actually I flew here by myself. My people staff are from all over the world so I don’t know. I’m ok alone or… either way I’m ok. The thing is after my neck surgery I have restrictions of carry something so I can’t carry heavy stuff so I need some assistants.
I’m wondering about your origins, your ancestry, about the people from your family, because you look very unusual. Do you maybe know something about your family’s ancestry?
I’m very curious too. So I asked my mother if I’m half-Japanese, she said she doesn’t know. So I don’t know, maybe I have some Russian in me. I should check it out at ancestry.com. I’ll tell you if I have something besides Japanese.
You have always been very frankly answering some questions – thank you for this. But in the film there was a question you’ve answered quite evasively: about the reason why Taiji left the group. Are you protecting him this way and will there be the moment you can answer this question?
Ok. So I fired him from the band so there was the reason, but I don’t want to talk about it till I die. So I have to bring it to the grave. Am I protecting him? I think so but… yeah.
You had hard times with your colleagues within the band so how are you getting on right now? I mean are you colleagues, are you friends because many of them have their solo careers so are you still in touch? What does it look like?
Probably any groups go through ups and downs so I don’t know. Sometimes you fight and sometimes we became very good friends. So I think we are ok. It’s not easy because I live in America, everybody lives in Japan. Then if we share the same dream – you know try to go more international, we can understand each other more. For some members maybe it’s comfortable just live in Japan, just being Japanese rock star so they may have their own vibes. I really respect that, but I want to bring X Japan to the next level. That’s why I’ve been promoting this film and everything throughout the world. It’s not easy and I ask some support from the members, some of them sometimes help me. I want to travel all over the world. So ok, I bring myself. Yeah, I think we are still good friends.
So I have two last questions. The first one is that: you have told us that you’ve tried Russian caviar in Russia – was it the only time?
Russian what? Ah Russian caviar! Ikura-ikura. I love it. I wanna eat everyday. It’s not easy to get that black caviar these days. It’s my favorite.
And here is my sentimental question to you. I know that you have a wonderful dog called Melody – do you miss her? And how is the dog doing?
I love dogs in general. So yes, it’s kind hard to talk about my personal life. The majority of my fans are very supportive. But sometimes some of my fans support my personal life. Some fans get super mad for some reason. Even talking about my dog some fans get upset. I try to keep these things private.
Ella Molochkovetskaya.
Photo by Elena Savitskaya.
We would like to thank Boris Barabanov and the CINEMA EMOTION project for accreditation and organizing the interview.
