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Born in Japan · Nationality Japanese — Culture / media / celebrities

Yoshiki

Documented profile covering 5 controversies, including “Lawsuit against Nexstar over more than ¥900 million in alleged unpaid amounts relating to X Japan” and “2010 dispute with hide's agency over use of his image in X Japan concerts”.

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Profile No. 0318 · Updated on 12 October 2026

5Documented controversies

12Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2018–2025

Defamation lawsuit against Shogakukan over articles alleging unpaid fees to X Japan members, settled in 2025

Civil / administrative proceedings

Articles published by Josei Seven and NEWS Post Seven since 2018 gave the impression that Yoshiki's agency was not paying certain X Japan members. Japan Music Agency sued Shogakukan in 2023 for 110 million yen and an apology. Shogakukan disputed the claims. A settlement was reached in December 2025, with seven articles removed; financial terms remained confidential.

Legal status — source text: Civil settlement in December 2025; articles removed; no judgment on the merits

Sources · 3

[1]
Nikkan SportsYOSHIKI側の紀藤弁護士「取材メモも出せないなんて…」MediaHigh reliability
[2]
Nikkan SportsYOSHIKI、小学館との和解成立MediaHigh reliability
[3]
TBS NEWS DIGYOSHIKI・所属事務所小学館と和解成立 7件の記事を削除へMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 22 August 2026

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2025-08

Dan Da Dan: Yoshiki raises possible infringement, followed by production team's apology

No legal proceedings

After the anime Dan Da Dan featured a song and staging strongly reminiscent of X Japan, Yoshiki publicly asked whether the song resembled X Japan and said his lawyers had alerted him to possible infringement. The production team subsequently apologised for not providing an explanation beforehand.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
ITmedia NEWS「ダンダダン」お囃子問題は円満解決かMediaHigh reliability
[2]
ITmedia NEWSダンダダン“お囃子”問題でアニメ公式が謝罪MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 22 August 2026

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2018-07

Red Swan: backlash after announcement as "X JAPAN feat. HYDE" without Toshl, followed by credit change

No legal proceedings

The Attack on Titan theme Red Swan was initially announced as a song by "X JAPAN feat. HYDE" although Toshl was not singing. Fans reacted strongly. The track was subsequently released under the name "YOSHIKI feat. HYDE".

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings
Attribution: Direct artistic and branding decision by Yoshiki

Sources · 3

[1]
ORICON NEWSX JAPAN×HYDE、初の楽曲コラボが実現MediaHigh reliability
[2]
FRIDAY DIGITALX JAPAN ８年ぶりリリースの新曲はXの”終わりの始まり”か？MediaMedium reliability
[3]
MOSHI MOSHI NIPPONAttack on Titan Season 3 Opening 'Red Swan' by YOSHIKI feat. HYDE Released DigitallyMediaMedium reliability

Last verified: 22 August 2026

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2010–2014

Lawsuit against Nexstar over more than ¥900 million in alleged unpaid amounts relating to X Japan

Civil / administrative proceedings

Yoshiki and his management company sued Nexstar in 2010, claiming that advances, royalties, concert fees and merchandising revenue linked to X Japan's reunion had not been paid. The total amount alleged exceeded 900 million yen.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Yoshiki/X Japan were claimants; subsequent sources report a favourable outcome
Attribution: Claimant in commercial dispute; no wrongdoing alleged against Yoshiki

Sources · 2

[1]
Sponichi Annex再結成のＸＪＡＰＡＮ「出演料未払い」と提訴MediaHigh reliability
[2]
女性自身「誠意ある対応を！」とYOSHIKIMediaMedium reliability

Last verified: 22 August 2026

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2010-08

2010 dispute with hide's agency over use of his image in X Japan concerts

Civil / administrative proceedings

Hide's agency announced legal action against Yoshiki's agency to stop the use of images of the deceased guitarist, claiming that the images had been used after the rights agreement expired or without clear renewal.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Lawsuit announced/filed by hide's management; no personal criminal issue
Attribution: Management and rights dispute involving Yoshiki's agency

Sources · 2

[1]
Nikkan SportsＨＩＤＥＸＪＡＰＡＮ契約問題訴訟MediaHigh reliability
[2]
女性自身YOSHIKI「何があってもHIDEはX JAPANのメンバー」MediaMedium reliability

Last verified: 22 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.