YOSHIKI made back-to-back appearances on "24-Hour TV," which aired on Saturday, August 31st, and Sunday, September 1st, making both the start and the grand finale of the program truly memorable. On the first night, he surprised everyone with a live stream appearance from his dinner show, and on the second night, he delivered a moving performance for the program's finale. Additionally, YOSHIKI announced that he would be donating 10 million yen to the program. He revealed on his social media that his participation in "24-Hour TV" this year was pro bono. YOSHIKI is scheduled to undergo his third emergency surgery in October, making this performance likely to be his last drum performance before the procedure.
Since YOSHIKI was performing at his dinner shows until Saturday, August 31st, his appearance on "24-Hour TV" was made possible through a special live broadcast from the dinner show venue. He captivated viewers with a piano performance of "Forever Love," dedicated to encouraging this year's charity marathon runner, Yasuko. The appearance was a complete surprise, leaving Yasuko, the hosts, and the program staff visibly astonished, making it a powerful and impactful moment.
During his appearance, YOSHIKI commented, "I have great respect for Yasuko's challenge in running this year. I also lost my father to suicide when I was a child and have carried that pain with me. I've made it this far because of my fans. When I heard that this charity was for children’s homes, I felt compelled to support it," expressing his empathy for Yasuko and the program.
During the broadcast on Sunday, September 1st, YOSHIKI made a live appearance at Ryogoku Kokugikan, delivering a determined performance despite being physically exhausted after completing his dinner show. During his appearance, he announced that he would be donating 10 million yen to the program, lightheartedly commenting, "I want to do as much as I can to uplift the children, even if it means pushing myself," which brought a smile to the audience.
The performance YOSHIKI delivered was titled "Nothing is Impossible: A Presents a Boundary-Defying Live Show," a one-night-only live show. It began with a guitar solo by Genki Yamada, a guitarist born with congenital limb differences, missing all fingers on his right hand except for his thumb. This was followed by performances from MORIKO JAPAN, a B-boy who lost 99% of his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa; V.E.H.B.I from Germany, a world-renowned dancer born without a right arm; NIKKO, a dancer born without a left arm; and MAHO, a dancer with a hearing impairment. These dancers, along with other talents like Mizuki Kajimoto, Koto, KAITA, KENZO (from DA PUMP), SOTA (from BE), Kaito Takahashi (from King & Prince), TAKAHIRO, and RIEHATA, created an unprecedented fusion of rock and dance on stage, embodying the spirit of "Nothing is Impossible."
YOSHIKI's iconic songs, which have resonated deeply with many people, were reborn through his special arrangements, resulting in a truly unique performance. Additionally, YOSHIKI took the stage with Bi-ray, the girl group he produced, performing X JAPAN's classic "Rusty Nail" in a sharp, reimagined version for the "24-Hour TV" boundary-defying live show. In the latter half of the performance, the boy group "XY," also produced by YOSHIKI, joined the stage. YOSHIKI himself elevated the energy to its peak with his elegant piano playing and intense drumming, leaving the audience in awe.
YOSHIKI is scheduled to undergo his third cervical spine surgery in October at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California. Despite being advised by several doctors to immediately focus on treatment, he has continued his activities. He has also been warned to avoid drumming as much as possible due to the significant strain it places on his body, making this likely his last performance before the surgery. When asked about his neck condition after the performance, YOSHIKI replied, "Everyone's unwavering support gives me the strength to face my neck surgery."
Toward the end of the program, YOSHIKI performed a collaboration of "Kurenai" with the brass band from his alma mater, Chiba Prefectural Awa High School, and the award-winning brass band from Hachioji High School, featuring a total of 76 members. The intensity of the performance surged following YOSHIKI's powerful scream. This collaboration, along with Yasuko's completion of the charity marathon, brought the program's finale to an emotional crescendo. YOSHIKI praised Yasuko for her efforts, saying, "One person's strength may be small, but I was truly inspired by your courage." This moment marked the program's peak viewership, with a rating of 25.4% in Japan.
After the broadcast, social media was filled with posts such as,"Watching YOSHIKI and other artists perform with such passion brought me to tears," "The energy of everyone dancing to YOSHIKI's drumming was incredible," "The drum and piano performance was breath taking... I’m so grateful to have seen it on TV," and "Just hearing the intro of 'Rusty Nail' brought me to tears." These comments reflect the significant impact of YOSHIKI's performance and the strong resonance with his views on charity.
YOSHIKI Official Site: https://www.yoshiki.net/
YOSHIKI YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/yoshikiofficial
YOSHIKI Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshikiofficial/
