Toshi, the life and death of X. He was one of the founders of X, but he was also the one who ended it. Some fans don't like Toshi, especially those who are big X Japan fans in the past. Some of my friends who are clueless of the story of X also don't like him for his voice. No matter what, I still like Toshi.

I regard Toshi's voice as one of the best in the JRock industry. True, his voice during X era was quite rough, however during X Japan era, his voice had developed tremendously. In X era he used to strained his voice when he sang high pitch notes. However during X Japan era he reached those high notes beautifully, which is why Tears is always my favourite ballad and not Endless Rain. His voice is always one of my favourite in the JRock world.

Quite on the contrary with Yoshiki who was a trouble-maker during their schooling days, Toshi was a bright student. He was going to going to medical school after he graduated from High School. If not for the fact that Yoshiki persuaded him to go to Tokyo to form a rock band with him, he might already have a 'Doctor' title to his name. Whether Toshi is meant to be a rocker or not is not for us to decide. Other members of X always said that Toshi is 'the normal guy' in the band. He was a rocker, but there are times when he's just as normal as the guy next door. Yoshiki said that he and hide used to teach Toshi what to say and how to behave on stage. Yoshiki predicted that Toshi might be tired of all that. Which might be one of the reasons that led him to leave X.

Toshi and Yoshiki started the legendary band X Japan. At first Toshi held the position of a guitarist. After their vocalist left, Yoshiki auditioned the rest of the member and thought that Toshi's voice was the best, thus Toshi was made the vocalist from then onwards. Toshi had written some songs together with other members of X. He wrote the sad Voiceless Screaming withy Taiji and one of my fave rock songs Drain together with hide.

Right after the disbandment of X Japan, he had some problems with Yoshiki. Toshi didn't attend the press conference announcing the disbandment of X Japan on 22nd September 1997 and he said that he was not informed about it. Yoshiki said that he already told Toshi Office about it and he thought there was no need of informing Toshi personally since Toshi already left the band in April. Yoshiki felt that Toshi might be trying to convey the message that he was fired by Yoshiki and Yoshiki was not pleased about it. They quarrelled and Yoshiki refused to have practice with him for The Last Live concert, they only had practice together the day before the concert itself *and see how well they could perform even with the minimum practice... man, they are great!* The friendship that they had built since they were 5 years old was gone...

Regarding his reason for leaving X Japan, I know there are many rumours out there regarding his wife who doesn't like X and asked him to leave or regarding him joining a cult and get brainwashed by Masaya whatsoever, but I think Toshi deserved to get some respect. Unless he announced his reason of leaving officially, I will not totally believe those rumours out there. Toshi, if you're reading this now *oh man, if you're REALLY reading this now, I'm going to faint* please let us know the real reason of your departure from X...

Toshi is still working on his music now. You can visit his site at http://toshioffice.co.jp and listen to some samples of his songs. If compared to his earlier solo works, his songs now are getting very sad and solemn, and his voice is still as beautiful as ever, if not even more so. Yoshiki is still waiting for his return. The song that Yoshiki made for hide, Without You, was to be sung by him and only him and Yoshiki is not planning to release the song unless Toshi agree to sing it... Toshi, please know that there are still fans who love you and support whatever you're doing right now. All the best, Toshi kun! ^_____^