YOSHIKI appeared without a neck brace at the US Variety Hitmakers awards ceremony! “I want to continue taking on challenges.”

■YOSHIKI receives “2024 International Music Achievement Award”! First Asian musician to achieve this feat.

The 8th Variety Hitmakers, a ceremony sponsored by the global entertainment magazine Variety in the US, was held in Los Angeles on December 7, local time, and YOSHIKI was awarded the 2024 International Achievement in Music Honor. )” and gave a speech.

This event honors the writers and producers who contributed to the most popular songs of the year, and YOSHIKI became the first musician from Asia to win this award.

YOSHIKI’s official Instagram account has posted footage from the red carpet of the award ceremony.

Although YOSHIKI is currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment for neck surgery he underwent in October, he appeared at the award ceremony this time without a neck brace. In his acceptance speech, he jokingly said, “Up until now, I have been working to prove how far music and art can take us.” Receiving this award has inspired me to continue taking on challenges.” I’m so inspired. I’m so grateful to be able to share this journey with everyone who understands the power of art,” he said, raising the trophy with a smile at the end, and the venue was filled with excitement.

Past winners include SZA, Elton John, Dua Lipa, BoyGenius, Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, and Selena Gomez. 2024’s Hitmaker of the Year will be British actress and singer-songwriter Charli XCX, Jelly Roll will be named Changemaker of the Year, Quavo will be named Humanitarian of the Year, and Ray was selected as the “Triple Threat”. Also at the venue on the day were Jack Antonoff, who is not only active as a singer-songwriter, but also a music producer who has worked on works by Taylor Swift, country singer-songwriter Laney Wilson, and actresses and singers. Top stars who are active all over the world, such as Olivia Rodrigo, were also seen.

YOSHIKI has continued to follow his own path ever since he started his career as the leader of the rock band X JAPAN. In September 2023, he will have his handprints and footprints engraved at a celebration at the TCL Chinese Theater (Los Angeles, USA), a symbol of Hollywood, becoming the first Japanese to achieve this feat in the theater’s 100-year history. I accomplished it. During his own classical world tour held the following October, he successfully performed at the Royal Albert Hall in the UK, the Dolby Theater, and Carnegie Hall in the US, achieving the feat of becoming the first Japanese to conquer three historic venues in the UK and the US. .

Furthermore, his activities are not limited to the music industry; in 2023, he made his directorial debut with the movie “YOSHIKI: UNDER THE SKY.” In the fashion field, he has continued to take on new creative challenges, such as launching the high fashion brand “MAISON YOSHIKI PARIS” and making his runway debut at Milan Fashion Week this year and Paris Fashion Week this fall.