Yoshiki Hayashi, known mononymously as Yoshiki, is a Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, film director, and fashion designer whose influence spans rock, classical music, and global pop culture. Born on November 20, 1965, in Tateyama, Chiba, Japan, he rose to prominence as the leader of the visual kei rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, serving as drummer, pianist, and main songwriter. Described by Billboard as a "musical innovator" and named "one of the most influential composers in Japanese history" by Consequence, Yoshiki has become one of Japan's most celebrated musicians, with Time labeling him "an absolute force."

Yoshiki founded X Japan in the 1980s, and the band went on to become one of the most successful and influential rock acts in Japanese history, pioneering the visual kei movement with its dramatic aesthetics and genre-blending sound. His dual role as a powerhouse drummer and classically trained pianist set him apart, and his songwriting became the creative backbone of the group. Beyond X Japan, he launched a solo career that includes several classical studio albums, showcasing his talents as a composer in the orchestral realm.

His collaborative reach is remarkably broad, spanning rock, pop, and classical worlds. He has worked with an array of international artists including George Martin, Bono, will.i.am, St. Vincent, The Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Ellie Goulding, Stan Lee, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons and Kiss, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Brightman, Jonas Brothers, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Diana Ross, and Josh Groban. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese Imperial family, he composed and performed a classical song at a celebration honoring the tenth anniversary of Emperor Akihito's enthronement.

Yoshiki's composing credits extend into film, television, and anime, including the theme for the 69th Golden Globe Awards and soundtracks for works such as Attack on Titan and Saw IV. In 2023, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary Yoshiki: Under the Sky. His stature in the rock world was underscored in 2018 when readers and professional musicians voted him the best drummer and best keyboardist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election."

His accolades continued to mount in the years that followed. In 2023, he became the first Japanese artist in nearly 100 years to be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. In 2024, Variety selected him as the International Achievement in Music honoree, and in 2025, Time named him one of the most influential people in the world on its Time 100 list. Through his genre-defying career, Yoshiki remains a singular figure who has bridged Japanese rock, Western classical music, and international entertainment.