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On August 1, YOSHIKI held a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, where he shared significant news about his health and future plans.
First, YOSHIKI announced that he will undergo his third emergency cervical spine surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, California, on October 8. He is currently suffering from intense neck pain and numbness in his left hand, causing problems with not only performance but everyday activities.
As a result, most of YOSHIKI’s scheduled commitments over the next two months have been canceled. While he hopes to continue with some activities, his entire schedule will be canceled following the October surgery.
YOSHIKI:
Right now, I have a burning sensation in the fingertips of my left hand, and it feels like I’m constantly holding ice in my hands. It’s unbearable without painkillers. The doctor told me that I should have surgery next week, but I already have a lot of commitments. Specifically, there is no option of canceling the dinner shows, which start tomorrow, as fans not only from Japan but from all over the world will be attending. I hope to be able to put on the best show possible.
Doctors expect YOSHIKI will need several months to recover and gradually resume physical activities, with close medical supervision throughout the process. After the surgery, he will consult with his doctors about when he can return to live performances.
Despite concerns about his health, the press conference also featured major announcements, including the launch of the fan community “YOSHIKI+” (YOSHIKI PLUS) and the “AI YOSHIKI PROJECT”. Read on for more details.
YOSHIKI at the August 1 press conference from Tokyo.
Despite his upcoming surgery, YOSHIKI made several major announcements at the press conference, including the launch of his new digital fan community, YOSHIKI+. The service officially launched on August 1.
Replacing the 22-year-old “YOSHIKI mobile”, YOSHIKI+ offers unique content like AI-driven features, podcasts, and direct online interaction with YOSHIKI. A key feature is a digital communication corner where fans can join Zoom-based meetings with him. Members will also get concert ticket priority sales, and access to exlusive merch via the webshop.
YOSHIKI+ is available for 880 JPY per month for the standard plan or 1,760 JPY per month for the premium plan. For more details, visit the YOSHIKI+ website.
YOSHIKI behind the scenes, in the making of the AI YOSHIKI PROJECT.
Alongside the launch of YOSHIKI+, YOSHIKI introduced the AI YOSHIKI PROJECT, a cutting-edge initiative to create a virtual version of himself.
In this project, a virtual version of YOSHIKI will be created using AI techniques like video, voice synthesis, and large language models for real-time fan interactions. This AI YOSHIKI will be able to learn over 100 languages, enabling global fan engagement.
A 3DCG avatar is being developed using the LUMIO3D face scanner. To create this, Toei Zukun Laboratory fully cooperated by providing access to their “Light Stage” scanner, one of the best 3D face scanners in the world. Only two of these scanners exist in Japan.
While YOSHIKI will be taking a well-earned break after his upcoming surgery, he shows no signs of slowing down in the lead-up. He is currently performing 13 live shows in Tokyo as part of his annual event, “EVENING / BREAKFAST with YOSHIKI”.
YOSHIKI has also been invited to Saudi Arabia, which is investing in entertainment as part of its strategy to diversify its economy away from oil. He was invited to attend the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest e-sports tournament, held in July and August. This invitation coincides with the upcoming 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen ties with Japanese game companies.
Additionally, YOSHIKI will be a special guest speaker at Salesforce’s “DREAMFORCE 2024” in San Francisco this September. As the world’s largest AI cloud platform event, it attracts top industry leaders, highlighting YOSHIKI’s influence. He will join Salesforce’s Paula Goldman, an AI expert and member of the US National AI Advisory Committee (NAIAC), on stage to discuss AI.
YOSHIKI at the August 1 press conference from Tokyo.