YOSHIKI to Perform the U.S. and Japanese National Anthems at the 2025 Major League Baseball Opening Day in Tokyo 
 
The Triumphant Return After Neck Surgery Marks a Historic MLB Season Kickoff

YOSHIKI has been selected by Major League Baseball (MLB) to perform the American and Japanese national anthems at the monumental 2025 MLB Opening Day in Tokyo. This historic event, taking place at Tokyo Dome on March 18, will see YOSHIKI take center stage before a global audience, setting the tone for one of the most anticipated games in MLB history - a high-stakes showdown between the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs.

MLB’s 2024 World Series champions, The Los Angeles Dodgers, includes three Japanese players—Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto— who will return to their home country for this historic game. The Cubs will also showcase two Japanese stars, Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, making the event especially meaningful for fans worldwide.  

YOSHIKI’s performance marks his first public performance since undergoing a third major neck surgery in October 2024, following decades of physically intense performances as a rock drummer and classical pianist. The performance is set to be a moment of triumph, resilience, and unity, symbolizing the unbreakable bond between the United States and Japan through the universal language of music and sport.

YOSHIKI is no stranger to monumental moments in history. He was chosen to compose and perform his song “Anniversary" for the 10th anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s accession to the throne, a performance that took place in front of the Tokyo Imperial Palace in 1999. His cultural impact transcends music, as evidenced by his groundbreaking achievement in 2023 - becoming the first Japanese artist to be immortalized in the 100-year history of Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre - placing his hand and footprints alongside the world’s most legendary stars.

YOSHIKI said:“I feel honored to be part of this major event. I’ve performed the American anthem at Dodger Stadium and Carnegie Hall, but this will be my first time performing the Japanese national anthem in front of a live audience. This will also be my first performance since my neck surgery, but I will do my best to honor these beautiful songs and contribute to the special bond between the U.S., Japan, and the rest of the world.”

https://www.mlb-tokyo-series-2025.jp/