YOSHIKI has opened up about the meaning behind his music, his personal journey and his latest collaboration with Josh Groban in a new interview with Billboard Japan. Published on October 14, 2026, the conversation focuses on “Forever Love (Live),” a new rendition of the X JAPAN ballad released worldwide on August 28. The recording captures YOSHIKI and Groban performing together at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles earlier this year.
Originally written and composed by YOSHIKI for X JAPAN, “Forever Love” was released in 1996 and has remained one of the musician’s best-known compositions. The new version was recorded during YOSHIKI Classical 2026 in Los Angeles on July 17, with YOSHIKI playing piano alongside an orchestra as Groban delivered the vocals in Japanese and English.
The collaboration grew out of a friendship that began in 2016, when the two artists met at an event connected to the Sundance Film Festival and the documentary We Are X. YOSHIKI said he wanted to invite friends with personal connections to Los Angeles to participate in the 2026 concert. He felt Groban’s voice would suit “Forever Love” and decided to create a bilingual version that could reach both English-speaking and Japanese-speaking audiences.
YOSHIKI explained that he adjusted the song’s original key to suit Groban’s vocal range. The version recorded with X JAPAN had been written in a considerably higher register, so he lowered it by seven semitones for the collaboration. He also listened to dozens of Groban’s recordings to assess his vocal range before suggesting the new key. YOSHIKI said the pair first rehearsed the song together on the day of the concert, relying on their mutual trust and familiarity.
The interview also revisits the emotions behind the song’s original composition. YOSHIKI recalled that when he wrote “Forever Love” three decades ago, he was living through a turbulent period and had a pessimistic outlook on life following his father’s death by suicide. He said he had not expected to live for a long time and believed that, although people eventually disappear, music could continue to exist beyond their lifetimes. That idea helped shape the song’s title and its message about love enduring beyond loss.
Reflecting on the fact that the song continues to reach listeners 30 years after its release, YOSHIKI said he feels gratitude for the support that has allowed him to continue living and making music. He also discussed how music and charitable work have become connected to his sense of purpose. The musician has supported disaster relief and other philanthropic initiatives over the years, saying that helping others has also helped him find meaning in his own life.
YOSHIKI described his approach to life as a continuing series of challenges. He said the support of fans and friends had given him what he considers a second or third chance at life, and that he wants to make the most of the opportunities he has received. He connected that outlook to his creative work, explaining that the possibility of helping someone through a song continues to motivate him to write and release music.
The conversation also addressed YOSHIKI’s plans for future releases. He said he has continued writing music at a rapid pace and has been working on collaborations with artists across several genres, including pop and rock. Among the musicians he mentioned were Jonathan Davis and Perry Farrell. Rather than waiting until he can assemble a complete album, YOSHIKI said he is increasingly interested in releasing individual songs as they are ready.
“Forever Love (Live)” represents an important step in that approach. YOSHIKI explained that he has sometimes felt restricted by the idea that every release must fit into a larger album project. Releasing a new interpretation of a song written 30 years ago alongside his newer work, he said, has helped him begin moving beyond those expectations. The single is his first release under his own name since “Red Swan,” which was released in 2018.
The collaboration with Groban also arrives during a significant year for YOSHIKI’s live performances. His 2026 Los Angeles concerts marked his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall, while his Tokyo dinner-show series reached its 100th performance in August. The milestone shows have featured special guests and performances as YOSHIKI continues to develop new formats for presenting his music.
For Groban, the performance offered an opportunity to interpret one of Japan’s most enduring rock ballads while working with its original composer. YOSHIKI praised Groban’s vocal ability and said hearing him sing the song in Japanese was particularly moving. Groban described the collaboration as an honour and said it allowed the artists to cross language and genre boundaries through a song that has resonated with audiences for decades.
Released globally on August 28, “Forever Love (Live)” brings together YOSHIKI’s piano performance, orchestral arrangements and Groban’s vocals in a recording taken directly from the Los Angeles concert. The new version marks 30 years since the original X JAPAN release and forms part of YOSHIKI’s ongoing effort to introduce his music to new listeners while continuing to work with artists from different musical backgrounds.
