Toshi

, known exclusively by his stage name Toshi, is a Japanese singer and songwriter who is the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the rock band X Japan, who rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is credited as founders of the visual kei movement. Toshi began an extensive solo career in 1992 before leaving X Japan at the end of 1997. Toshi said he was "brainwashed" by a group called Home of Heart, whose leader would control his musical output for the next 12 years. In 2007, X Japan reunited and began a world tour. Toshi severed ties with Home of Heart in January 2010 and renewed his solo career. In January 2018, he began to use the stage name . In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Toshi the best vocalist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". His distinctive, impassioned tenor vocals have been compared to those of Steve Perry.

Career

1982–1993: X Japan

In 1977, Toshi and his childhood friend Yoshiki formed a band called Dynamite in their hometown of Tateyama, Chiba, when they were just 11 years old. The group changed its name to Noise in 1978, while they were still in high school. At this time Toshi was a guitar player, but following the departure of their vocalist, Toshi was selected for the position after being deemed the best singer remaining in the group. In 1982, Noise disbanded and Yoshiki and Toshi formed a new band, naming it X while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck. X began to actively perform in the Tokyo area in 1985 with a frequently changing lineup. They released their first album, Vanishing Vision, in 1988 through Yoshiki's own Extasy Records and toured extensively in support of the record. They would become one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, and were later widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei.

X's major label debut album, Blue Blood, was released in April 1989 and debuted at number six on the Oricon chart. Its success earned the band the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1990. Their third album, Jealousy, was released in 1991 and debuted at number one, selling over 600,000 copies. It was later certified at one million by the RIAJ. Shortly after the release of 1993's Art of Life, which also topped the Oricon chart, During the early 1990s, he started working with renowned American vocal coach Roger Love, who has been his coach ever since.

In 1993, Toshi starred in a musical adaptation of Hamlet as the title character. The role of Ophelia was performed by Kaori Moritani, whom he would marry four years later on February 17, 1997. She played a large part in Toshi becoming disenchanted with performing in a rock band. Toshi was emotionally touched by Masaya's "healing music" or new-age music, which Kaori introduced him to, and the two became friends. Toshi and his office were involved in the court cases. In April, Toshi was sued for defaming Kito after he made statements about the accusations. In March 2007, Toshi announced on his website that he and Yoshiki had recently resumed working together, stating that a "new project" would commence soon. Rumors of a X Japan reunion subsequently began, and in June Yoshiki was reported as having expressed interest in a tour (beginning in Los Angeles), "Without You" being released as a single and that he was in talks with Heath and Pata regarding their participation.

With X Japan's restart came a restart of Toshi's solo activities. On June 11, 2008, his new band Toshi with T-Earth was announced, with a line-up of Phantasmagoria guitarist Jun, and guitarist Touya and bassist Ruka from the band Charlotte. For their live shows they would switch between La'cryma Christi's drummer Levin and Luna Sea's drummer Shinya. Their first album Earth Spirit was released on August 8, they dubbed their music "eco hard rock", as the reason for starting the band was to draw attention to the environment. In October, T-Earth performed two shows in South America, in Chile and Brazil. Their second album Haruka Naru Toki o Koete, was released on November 26.

In April 2009, it was announced that 13-year-old drummer Riku, would be joining the group and that anyone who wanted to could apply to join, the only requirement was "people who want to save the Earth". In July, 18-year-old guitarist Ryo and 24-year-old bassist Kain officially joined the band. On August 13, they released an album in 2 versions: Hontou no Ai and its English version, Truth. He also divorced his wife Kaori Moritani in February of the same year, who had also been working for Home of Heart, Ltd. Toshi even disclosed how they "effectively have not been husband and wife" saying: "Aside from having met her occasionally related to work, I do not know anything about her actual life." Toshi also claims that she had been living with Masaya for the past 10 years.

2010–present: Renewed solo career On February 8, Toshi opened a new official website, which announced that he would release one last mini album, entitled Samurai Japan, on February 24. His stage name is now written as Toshl. The songs were completely composed and produced by Toshi and feature X Japan's Pata and Sugizo. His "last solo concert" was on February 24, which he performed with X Japan's members as guest musicians.

On November 22, Toshi announced the first performance of his new project, entitled Toshl feat. Yoshiki, would be held on January 24 and 25, 2011. It was a high-end dinner show, where the attendees were served a French meal by renowned chef Mikuni Kiyomi, and enjoyed a piano duet by Toshi and Yoshiki, an orchestra was also utilized. It was also announced that the duo would release their first songs earlier that month.

In response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, Toshi performed eight concerts throughout western Japan. All of the shows were acoustic due to the electricity shortage and featured X Japan's Heath, Luna Sea's Shinya and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa. All proceeds were donated to the Japanese Red Cross to aid the victims. On June 22, Toshi released two songs, "Hoshizora no Neptune" and "Haru no Negai", as digital downloads that are available overseas. It was announced that Toshi had joined European record label Bishi Bishi in September 2011.

On March 27, 2013, Toshi released his first full-length album since restarting his solo career, Cherry Blossom. The single "Love is Maria" was also released that day, both are available worldwide in 111 countries.

Toshi released the book on July 23, 2014, which talks about his leaving X Japan, being "brainwashed" via violence and abuse, reuniting with X and going bankrupt. On August 25, he held a special concert at Zepp Diver City where he was supported by a one-off band consisting of Kei (baroque), Yuu (Merry), Akinori (lynch.) and Shinya of Dir En Grey. Toshi collaborated with Sukekiyo, singing on the track "Ameagari no Yūshi" included with the limited edition of their 2015 mini album Vitium.

In 2016, Toshi became sound producer for Fuji TV's game company Fuji Games. He created "Crystal Memories" as the theme song for their 2017 smartphone video game Ordinal Strata. In 2018, Toshi made his voice acting debut in the game voicing a version of himself. He also collaborated with hip-hop artist AK-69 on the rapper's digital single "Brave". On September 3, he released a food book titled . In September, it was announced that Toshi had signed with Universal Music Group, where he would release a cover album titled Im a Singer on November 28. It was his first album to be released on a major record label in 20 years. A second cover album, Im a Singer Vol. 2, was released on December 4, 2019.

In 2019, Toshi made an appearance as a guest artist at the annual touring ice show Fantasy on Ice. His opening performance of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" from the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion in Kobe and Toyama attracted international media attention. Also notable was his live music collaboration with figure skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu to his songs "Masquerade" and "Crystal Memories". Toshi wrote "Be Alright", which was released digitally in April 2020, to be the theme song of the TV drama Guilty: Kono Koi wa Tsumi Desu ka?. In addition to marking the first time he wrote for a drama, it was also his first original song released on a major record label in 22 years.

Im a Singer Vol. 3 was released on September 28, 2022. Unlike Toshi's two previous cover albums, it features an original composition, "Hazakura", and a duet with Kanji Ishimaru. Toshi returned the favor in 2024, dueting with Ishimaru on "Dai Tokai" for his album With Friends. Toshi provided a cover of "Ai o Torimodose!!" to be the ending theme song of the 2026 anime adaptation of Fist of the North Star. It is included on Im a Singer Vol. 4, which was released on July 1, 2026. While predominately focused on anime song covers such as "Guren no Yumiya", which features Hisashi on guitar, "Moonlight Densetsu" and "Mixed Nuts", the album also includes three original compositions; "Unmei no Senkō", "Kirameki wa Kaze" and "Buchikamase".

Discography

As Toshl Albums Cherry Blossom (March 27, 2013) Crystal Rock Chapter 1-3 (June 12, 2013) Crystal Rock Chapter 1-3 English Ver. (August 7, 2013) Im a Singer (November 28, 2018, cover album), Oricon Albums Chart Peak Position: #4, Billboard Japan Hot Albums Peak Position: #4 Im a Singer Vol. 2 (December 4, 2019, cover album) #8, Im a Singer Vol. 3 (September 28, 2022, cover album) #12, Im a Singer Vol. 4 (July 1, 2026, cover album) #41 Mission (June 11, 1994) #3 (May 21, 1993, with Night Hawks) #12 (July 6, 1997, with Night Hawks) (December 16, 1994) #21 60 Candles: A Tribute to Kayama Yuzo (April 23, 1997, cover of Yuzo Kayama's "Toki wo Koete") Vitium (Sukekiyo, February 4, 2015, vocals on "Ameagari no Yūshi") Oneness M (Sugizo, November 29, 2017, lyrics and vocals on "Phoenix ~Hinotori~")

"Brave" (AK-69, May 14, 2018, vocals) Ordinal Strata: Character Songs I (August 15, 2018, produced the album, which also features three of his songs) Akko ga Omakase ~Akiko Wada 50th Anniversary Tribute Album~ (September 5, 2018, cover of Akiko Wada's "Shiawase no Chikara") The Anthem (AK-69, February 27, 2019, vocals on "Brave -Orchestra Ver.-") With Friends (Kanji Ishimaru, November 6, 2024, duet vocals on a cover of Crystal Kay's "Dai Tokai")