Yoshiki escapes unharmed after being mobbed by fans in Kyoto bookstore

Wednesday 10th June, 02:00 PM JST

KYOTO —

X Japan’s Yoshiki visited a Kyoto bookstore on Tuesday to greet fans and talk about the new book “YOSHIKI” (Kadokawa Publishing, 2,310 yen), a non-fiction tale of his dramatic near-death written by Narumi Komatsu.

Having arrived in Kyoto for other work, he proposed the idea of an appearance the night before, deciding on a surprise visit to Ogaki Bookstore in Karasuma. Despite the fact that the visit was only announced on Yoshiki’s website, over 300 fans had appeared by 7:30 a.m. that morning to greet the star.

The store had posted 20 security guards on crowd control for Yoshiki’s visit. When the Mercedes-Benz carrying the star arrived just after noon, fans screamed in excitement, some with tears in their eyes. Yoshiki was accidentally crushed by a group of swarming fans, and sources say he escaped with sprained fingers on his right hand. He was inside just long enough to sign the shop’s poster for the book, but for about three minutes, his presence turned what is normally a quiet book store into a whirlwind of excitement similar to an X Japan concert.

“I’m really happy. We’ve been doing shows here since before our debut, and Kansai is like a second home to me,” he said. When asked about playing concerts in the region, Yoshiki announced, “It’s a definite possibility. Things have already started to move, and if all goes well, it might happen some time this year.” Regarding the location, he commented, “I’d definitely want a stage built that won’t shake.”

Will Kansai fans get to see the “X Jump” on the same scale as Tokyo Dome?!

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Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

ritalynn at 04:18 PM JST - 10th June

He's lucky I wasn't there, he wouldn't have gotten away!
LoveUSA at 04:21 PM JST - 10th June

on this picture he looks weak and anorexic. In Japan some people suffer the opposite of the metabolic syndrom and it is more dangerous than being fat, for example lack of calicum in the bones can lead to fracture from a shake with a fan.
herefornow at 04:41 PM JST - 10th June

Wow, what a "hunk". I can see why the J-girls are nuts about him.
DJJapan at 04:52 PM JST - 10th June

Give the guy a break! It's his first time to have a sprained finger :( Last time it was a fractured eye brow and he needed 6 weeks for rehabilitation! ;) Kind of reminds me of the role that David Bowie played in "The man that fell to earth"
Bento at 05:36 PM JST - 10th June

northlondon..lol
1trickster at 10:08 PM JST - 10th June

Thank God he's ok. Sure hope those sprained fingers heal quickly. fairy
Den Den at 11:49 PM JST - 10th June

I thought it was a picture of a Russian woman I know.
soldave at 09:11 AM JST - 11th June

Sprained fingers... poor boy. A guy in Salford fractured his skull in 5 places playing rugby last weekend, and hopes to be back in training in a couple of weeks.
DaDude at 10:04 AM JST - 11th June

What is so good about X Japan and what maked them stand out from other groups? They have a following around the World so I wonder........
flatearther at 11:22 AM JST - 11th June

Why is he wearing a shirt?
He looks much better without it. Oh well...........
GAYMAN at 02:35 PM JST - 11th June

why didn't he die?
LoveUSA at 04:07 PM JST - 11th June

he geys thinner and thinner. A man should have muscles.
PepinGalarga at 02:39 AM JST - 12th June

hes just as thin as the poster beind him. its so funny to see the types of strong men featured in manga book covers, but the reality of the Japanese man today is very different from that.
nikoniko at 06:14 PM JST - 13th June

weasel - you must totally not be into J music

Sprained fingers and being a both a pianist and drummer .. well not a good mix, is it?
nikoniko at 06:16 PM JST - 13th June

"a both a" sorry for that err / well its so strange ... its like once a person wonders "hmm whats yoshiki up to anymore?" then POOF the guys on the scene^^