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X Japan Continues World Tour as Acoustic Concerts

Udo Artists and X Japan members Toshl, Pata, and Heath held a press conference on Friday to announce that the band's planned “X Japan World Tour 2017 We Are X” concerts will be held as acoustic concerts. Instead of playing drums, leader YOSHIKI will perform piano at the concerts at Osaka-jō Hall on July 11-12 and at Yokohama Arena on July 14-17. The new title of the tour will be "X Japan World Tour 2017 We Are X Acoustic Special Miracle 6 Days.”

The announcement's press release stated:

Although YOSHIKI successfully underwent cervical artificial disk replacement surgery and has already started the rehabilitation process, doctors cannot say with certainty that he will be able to drum like he used to. Since doctors have instructed him to stay away from vigorous exercise for at least 6 months, he cannot play the drums for the time being. However, since YOSHIKI himself does not want these scheduled concerts to be canceled due to his surgery, he asked whether there would be any way to make the concerts happen, and the band members sided with him when he reached out.

The press release also stated:

Based on what we know about YOSHIKI's current state after surgery, we cannot say that his rehabilitation, which is very painful, is going smoothly. Shortly after surgery, he was not able to walk on his own, and even breathing normally was difficult. This is why he became worried if his fingers would move normally and headed to his recording studio after getting out of the hospital. Currently, he is feeling numb from his mouth to neck, and a pain that feels like electricity is running through his left arm. Under doctor's supervision, YOSHIKI has been advised to “move around as much as possible” and he is following his doctor's instructions in order to get himself ready for the upcoming shows.

The band decided that YOSHIKI would play piano at the concerts after discussions with promoters and YOSHIKI's United States agency WME. YOSHIKI said through a phone call message at the press conference, "I want to move forward. I'd love to be given a chance to do the shows.” He also confirmed that the "Evening With YOSHIKI 2017" premium dinner shows scheduled for August and September will be held. YOSHIKI apologized to fans and said he wants "to inspire people."

The "Acoustic Special Miracle" in the tour's new title is a reference to an acoustic performance held in 1991 when the band was known as X. YOSHIKI did not drum during the “Silent X” concert, and other band members played acoustic guitars. The upcoming concerts, also called "Elegant X Japan,” will be "Miracle Nights" because fans called "Silent X" an appearance of “X never to be seen again."

YOSHIKI underwent surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 16. His surgical wound was expected to partially heal in six weeks, and he was expected to make a 90% recovery after six months. However, the recovery period for the sharp pain he experiences in his left arm remained unknown shortly after his surgery. All of the performer's scheduled activity for May was cancelled.

YOSHIKI was diagnosed with cervical foraminal stenosis (narrowing of the cervical disc space) in 2009 and previously underwent treatment for the condition. His symptoms reappeared last October, and by his New York City performances in January he had lost sensation in his left hand.

X Japan went on hiatus in February 2016 following the hospitalization of guitarist Pata. YOSHIKI has continued to appear at numerous events around the world to perform and to promote X Japan's documentary film, "We are X."

X Japan's most notable anime contributions were the songs in the X² music video collection and later X movie. The animation Studio Madhouse adapted both productions from CLAMP's X manga. The surviving band members — Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama, Yoshiki Hayashi, Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka, and Hiroshi "Heath" Morie — reunited in 2007, 10 years after they first disbanded and nine years after the death of guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto.