Japanese musician and composer YOSHIKI joined forces with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to support wildfire relief efforts in both the United States and Japan.
YOSHIKI, Sasaki and Yamamoto autographed the original sheet music for both national anthems that were performed by the Japanese artist prior to the Tokyo Series opener last month.
Each music score has been placed in an elegant frame and will be auctioned separately by LADF through April 28 to benefit those affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Ofunato, Japan.
The initiative is especially meaningful for Sasaki, who grew up in Ofunato and anxiously watched from afar as the city battled its worst forest fires in over 30 years.
Sasaki, who tragically lost his father and grandparents in the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, has personally contributed 10 million yen in cash and 5 million yen in supplies to the relief effort. The Dodgers matched his donation with an additional 15 million yen, reinforcing their commitment to global humanitarian aid.
As for YOSHIKI, he previously contributed more than $500,000 to L.A. wildfire relief efforts and remains dedicated to using his platform to support those in crisis.
YOSHIKI visited Dodgers during 2024 season
YOSHIKI met Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani before the Dodgers faced the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium last season, and also performed a rendition of the national anthem prior to first pitch.
YOSHIKI received a standing ovation from the fans in attendance and more cheers later when he ceremoniously declared “It’s time for Dodgers Baseball!” over the public address system.
“It was an honor to talk with Ohtani and Yamamoto, who also live in L.A.,” YOSHIKI said in a statement. “I received signed uniforms from the two of them. In addition, I was surprised to receive a uniform with my own name on it from the Dodgers.
“After meeting athletes Ohtani and Yamamoto, I feel grateful and inspired to take on the world. I’m happy that in addition to Hello Kitty, yoshikitty also came to Dodger Stadium. It was an amazing day. I didn’t expect that I would perform the American National Anthem twice due to sound issues.
“As soon as I heard the loud applause after my performance, I was glad that I did my best, including the improvisation. It was worth it to come back to L.A. despite the extremely demanding schedule. Thank you to everyone.”
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