LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — The Japanese drummer and leader of the legendary rock group X Japan, announced that he’s donating 10 million yen (about $93,000 USD) in support of the victims and survivors of the Kyoto Animation fire.
The fire, an arson attack, occured on July 18th when a man entered the studio in Kyoto, and spread gasoline over several employees and the office near its entrance before setting it alight. At least 35 people were killed and an additional 33 people were injured in the attack, which is one of the deadlist on Japanese soil since the end of World War 2.
“I am in the United States and I learned about the Kyoto Animation fire on the local news,” Yoshiki said in a press statement announcing the gift. “My heart aches. Japanese anime, and each one of those creators, is a treasure of the world. I hope they recover as soon as possible.”
“I’m always doing tours around the world,” Yoshiki added. “No matter where I go, animation fans come to my concerts and support my global activities. I’m always grateful to them. And I always want to contribute to the development of Japan’s anime culture, which I consider one of the world’s treasures. I truly share the pain of those who lost their families. I really hope this will assist the bereaved, and also hope that the circle of support around them will expand.”
Yoshiki and X Japan have been involved several charitable efforts following Japanese disasters in recent years, including in the wake of the Tohoku earthquake in 2011 when they donated all performance fees from their festival appearances for earthquake relief.
In 2016, the band donated 28 million yen in concert revenue to the earthquake reconstruction live of Ishinomaki.
In July 2018, he donated 10 million yen to the reconstruction effort after the 2018 floods in Japan and 10 million yen to victims of the Eastern Iburi earthquake that same year.
Last month, YOSHIKI visited the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and donated $150,000 to music education. His ongoing charity work includes supporting the Japanese Red Cross, the Make A Wish Foundation, the Points of Light Foundation, the Grammy Foundation, and multiple other organizations.
