It has been announced that YOSHIKI of the rock band "X JAPAN" will perform the national anthems of both Japan and the United States on the piano at the MLB (Major League Baseball) Japan Opening Tokyo Series "Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers" to be held at Tokyo Dome (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) on March 18. YOSHIKI, who has been undergoing long-term treatment since his third neck surgery last October, will be performing in public for the first time since the surgery.
YOSHIKI commented, "I am honored to be able to take part in this memorable event. I have performed the U.S. national anthem at Dodger Stadium and Carnegie Hall before, but this will be the first time I will be performing the Japanese national anthem live. This will also be my first performance since my neck surgery, and I would like to do my best to pay tribute to the beautiful national anthems of both countries and contribute to the special bond between Japan and the United States, and people all over the world."
This is the sixth MLB opening game in Japan, and the first time in six years. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who won last year's World Series, will face off against the Chicago Cubs, one of the most historic and traditional teams in MLB. There is a high possibility that five Japanese players, including Dodgers pitchers Shohei Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, will play in the opening game and the second game (19th), attracting a lot of attention.
