Yoshiki, drummer, pianist and songwriter for legendary Japanese hard rock band X Japan, is auctioning his "crystal" plexi-glass piano, according to a recent press release. The reason? He's raising funds for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

L.A.-based Yoshiki was in Japan at the time of earthquake, where the band had been at work on what will be their first full-length album to be released in the U.S. They have already released five studio albums. Just days before a 9.0 earthquake hit northeastern Japan, Yoshiki hosted the Asia Girls Explosion fashion event in Tokyo.

In the statement, Yoshiki said, "It took awhile to locate my mother, but she is, thankfully, OK," adding that his X Japan bandmates-- Toshi (vocals), Pata (guitar), Sugizo (guitar, violin, also of the band Luna Sea) and Heath (bass)-- are alright.

"I am praying for the people here who are still trying to locate their family and friends," he said in the statement.

As for the piano, it's something easily recognizable to X Japan fans. It's called the "Yoshiki Signature Piano by Kawai," a custom piece with the musician's name engraved on it, which you can see in the photo.
Yoshiki will also be fundraising through Yoshiki Foundation America. The charity launched last year with an event at Club Nokia.
Though the band has been together for over twenty years, it was only in 2010 that they began courting their U.S. audience, first with a string of music video shoots in January and continuing with a high-profile appearance at Lollapalooza, followed by a fall tour. X Japan's first U.S. single, "Jade," was set for release today. According to the statement, it has been postponed due to the situation in Japan.
Marilyn Manson appeared at the opening party for Vivienne Westwood's Melrose Avenue shop where he said that he will be working with X Japan founder Yoshiki on a forthcoming project to benefit earthquake/tsunami relief in Japan. "He's a good friend of mine," said Manson in the red carpet Q/A of the famed drummer.
"I am also working with him on helping out with the benefit for Japan," he said, "only because I like their clothes. I got these glasses from Japan."
He added, "My fashion and charity ties together in that I'm very selfish."
Several weeks ago, Manson appeared at Yoshiki' s Asia Girls Explosion event in Tokyo. "I just narrowly missed the tsunami by one day," said Manson.

Credits: LAWeekly, LAWeekly

Japanese music/fashion icon, X Japan's Yoshiki, co-produced and hosted "Asia Girls Explosion" on Sunday, March 6, an East-meets-West/fashion-meets-music event held at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, and rocker Marilyn Manson walked the runway.

"When we came up with the concept for AGE, the first person I thought of was Marilyn Manson," said Yoshiki. "He is the fashion icon in rock'n'roll, and I'm very excited he agreed to be part of the show."

Manson and other international celebrities that included Shenae Grimes, Jessica Stroup and AnnaLynne McCord from the TV series "90210," presented trendy but wearable collections from a variety of high-end, international designers that combined Japanese street fashion with progressive Western design, and a healthy dose of rock'n'roll style.

"Asia Girls Explosion" also unveiled Yoshiki's own fashion line, "Yoshikimono," that paid tribute to his parents who ran a Kimono shop when he was growing up. "It is a tradition in Japan that the eldest male takes on the family business," Yoshiki explained. "But I rebelled and got into rock'nroll. With the Yoshikimono line, I feel I'm keeping my parents' dream alive."

Yoshiki's band, X Japan, one of the biggest rock bands in Japanese history, is currently recording what will be their first-ever album to be released in North America. The album's first single, "Jade," will premiere on March 15, and the album will be out later this year.

Credits: yoshikinet