X Japan discography

X Japan discography
X Japan in Hong Kong, 2009
Studio albums	6
Live albums	6
Compilation albums	11
Video albums	22
Singles	23
Remix	1
Various artists compilations	3
Demos	4

The discography of the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan consists of 5 studio albums, 6 live albums, 1 remix album, 11 compilations, 23 singles, and around 22 live video recordings.

Founded in 1982 by vocalist Toshi and drummer Yoshiki, X Japan started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. With the member line-up including bassist Taiji and guitarists hide and Pata since 1987, X released their debut studio album Vanishing Vision on Yoshiki's own record label Extasy Records the following year. They then achieved breakthrough success with their second album and major label debut, Blue Blood, in 1989. It was followed by the million-selling Jealousy (1991), which is the band's most diverse album in terms of songwriting credits. In 1992, the band changed their name to X Japan and bassist Taiji left the group, being replaced by Heath. The mini-album Art of Life was released in 1993, composed solely of the 29-minute title track. Their last album Dahlia was released in 1996, and the following year the band decided to break up. However, after ten years, X Japan reunited in 2007 and recorded the new song "I.V.". They officially recruited lead guitarist Sugizo to fill-in for the deceased hide two years later and in 2011 had their first worldwide release, the digital single "Jade".

Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,^[1] the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei,^[2][3] a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam. X Japan have sold millions of records in Japan, claiming un-certified sales of over 30 million.^[4][5][6]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Information	Oricon chart peaks		Japanese Sales	RIAJ certification (sales thresholds)
		Weekly[7]	Yearly
1988	Vanishing Vision Released: April 14, 1988 Label: Extasy	19 (main chart)[8] 1 (indie chart)[8]	78 (CD, 1990)	158,220 800,000[1]	—
1989	Blue Blood Released: April 21, 1989 Label: CBS/Sony	6	63 (1989) 28 (1990)	712,000[9] 1,000,000+[8]	Platinum
1991	Jealousy Released: June 1, 1991 Label: Sony	1	12 (1991) 62 (1992)	1,113,000<ref name="ref name="2Xalbum oricon sales"/>	Million[10]
1993	Art of Life Released: August 25, 1993 Label: Atlantic	1	28	600,000+[11]	Platinum
1996	Dahlia Released: November 4, 1996 Label: Atlantic	1	50	601,520	Platinum

Live albums

Year	Information	Oricon chart peaks		Japanese Sales	RIAJ certification (sales thresholds)
		Weekly[7]	Yearly
1995	On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live Released: January 1, 1995 Label: Ki/oon	3	69	335,590	Gold
1997	Live Live Live Tokyo Dome 1993-1996 Released: October 15, 1997 Label: Polydor	3	90	254,760	Gold
	Live Live Live Extra Release: November 5, 1997 Label: Polydor	13	—	21,460	—
1998	Live in Hokkaido 1995.12.4 Bootleg Release: January 21, 1998 Label: Polydor	20	—	20,340	—
	Art of Life Live Release: March 18, 1998 Label: Polydor	20	—	19,110	—
2001	The Last Live Release: May 30, 2001 Label: Polydor	7	—	84,380	—

Compilation albums

Year	Information	Oricon chart peaks		Japanese Sales	RIAJ certification (sales thresholds)
		Weekly[7]	Yearly
1993	X Singles Release: November 21, 1993 Label: Ki/oon	2	36 (1994)	1,000,000+	Million[10]
1996	B.O.X ~Best of X~ Release: March 21, 1996 Label: Ki/oon	5	—	115,240	—
1997	Ballad Collection Release: December 19, 1997 Label: Polydor	3	47 (1998)	566,160	Platinum
	X Japan Singles ~Atlantic Years~ Release: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic	14	—	68,630	—
	Special Box Release: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic	96	—	—	—
	Single Box Release: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic	—	—	—	—
1999	Star Box Release: January 30, 1999 Label: Sony	4	—	107,780	—
	Perfect Best Release: February 24, 1999 Label: Atlantic	4	94	256,440	Gold
2001	Best ~Fan's Selection~ Release: December 19, 2001 Label: Polydor	13	—	76,240	—
2005	Complete II Release: October 1, 2005 Label: Columbia	92	—	—	—
2014	The World ~X Japan Hatsu no Zensekai Best~ (THE WORLD〜X JAPAN 初の全世界ベスト〜) Release: June 17, 2014 Label: Warner Music Japan	2	82[12]	61,030 (Oricon) 329 (Gaon)[13]	-

Remix albums

Year	Information	Oricon chart peaks		Japanese Sales	RIAJ certification (sales thresholds)
		Weekly[7]	Yearly
2002	Trance X Release: December 4, 2002 Label: Polydor	27	—	11,374	—

Singles

Year	Title	Oricon chart peaks		Billboard Japan Hot 100 peaks	RIAJ certification (sales thresholds)	Sales (Japan)	Album
		Weekly[14]	Yearly
1985	"I'll Kill You" Release: June 15, 1985 Label: Dada	—	—	—	—	1,000[8]	—
1986	"Orgasm" (オルガスム) Release: April 20, 1986 Label: Extasy	—	—	—	—	1,500[8]	—
1989	"Kurenai" (紅) Release: September 1, 1989 Label: CBS/Sony	5	74 (1989) 67 (1990)	—	Gold	309,540	Blue Blood
	"Endless Rain" Release: December 1, 1989 Label: CBS/Sony	3	21	—	Gold	357,680
1990	"Week End" Release: April 21, 1990 Label: CBS/Sony	2	32	—	Gold	291,440
1991	"Silent Jealousy" Release: September 11, 1991 Label: Sony	3	58	—	Gold	234,950	Jealousy
	"Standing Sex" Release: October 25, 1991 Label: Sony	4	87	—	—	187,160	—
	"Say Anything" Release: December 1, 1991 Label: Sony	3	33	—	Platinum	537,790	Jealousy
1993	"Tears" Release: November 10, 1993 Label: MMG	2	77 (1993) 50 (1994)	—	2× Platinum	836,940	Dahlia
1994	"Rusty Nail" Release: July 10, 1994 Label: Atlantic	1	28	—	Platinum	712,390
1995	"Longing ~Togireta Melody~" (Longing ～跡切れたmelody～) Release: August 1, 1995 Label: Atlantic	1	76	—	Platinum	476,170
	"Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~" (Longing ～切望の夜～) Release: December 11, 1995 Label: Atlantic	5	—	—	—	159,360	—
1996	"Dahlia" Release: February 2, 1996 Label: Atlantic	1	72	—	Platinum	412,810	Dahlia
	"Forever Love" Release: July 8, 1996 Label: Atlantic	1	47	—	Platinum	509,920
	"Crucify My Love" Release: August 26, 1996 LabeL: Atlantic	2	—	—	Gold	246,800
	"Scars" Release: November 18, 1996 Label: Atlantic	15	—	—	—	47,010
1997	"Forever Love (Last Mix)" Release: December 18, 1997 Label: Polydor	13	—	—	—	129,880	—
1998	"The Last Song" Release: March 18, 1998 Label: Polydor	8	—	—	—	63,770	—
	"Forever Love" (re-release) Release: July 22, 1998 Label: Atlantic	18	—	—	—	24,910	Dahlia
	"Scars" (re-release) Release: July 22, 1998 Label: Atlantic	15	—	—	—	39,710
2001	"Forever Love" (re-release) Release: July 11, 2001 Label: Atlantic	19	—	—	—	10,660
2008	"I.V." Release: January 23, 2008 Label: Extasy	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"Scarlet Love Song -Buddha Mix-" Release: June 8, 2011 Label: Japan Music Agency	—	—	33[15]	—	—	—
	"Jade" Release: June 28, 2011 Label: EMI (NA & EU)	—	—	19[16]	—	—	—
2015	"Born to Be Free" Release: November 6, 2015 Label: Warner Music	—	—	21[17]	—	—	—

Various artists compilations

Title	Song	Release date	Label
Heavy Metal Force III	"Break the Darkness"	November 7, 1985[18]	Explosion
Skull Thrash Zone Volume I	"Stab Me in the Back", "No Connexion"	March 7, 1987[19]	Victor
Global Metal Soundtrack	"X (Live)"	July 24, 2008	Universal

VHS / LD / DVD

Title	VHS release date	LD release date	DVD release date	Blu-ray release date	Label	Oricon DVD chart peaks [20]
Xclamation	August 1987	－	－	－	－	－
Xclamation	1988	－	－	－	－	－
Thanx	March 16, 1989	－	－	－	CBS/Sony	－
Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen Gig	June 1, 1989	June 1, 1989	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
Shigeki! Visual Shock Vol. 2	December 31, 1989	December 31, 1989	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
Celebration Visual Shock Vol. 2.5	September 1, 1990	September 1, 1990	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
Shigeki 2 ~Yume no Nakadakeni Ikite~ Visual Shock Vol. 3	September 30, 1991	September 30, 1991	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
Say Anything ~X Ballad Collection~ Visual Shock Vol. 3.5	December 21, 1991	December 21, 1991	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live Visual Shock Vol. 4	November 1, 1992	November 1, 1992	September 5, 2001	－	Ki/oon	－
X Clips	January 1, 1995	January 1, 1995	July 5, 2000	－	Ki/oon	36
Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I	January 1, 1997	－	－	－	Atlantic	－
Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part II	March 5, 1997	－	－	－	Atlantic	－
Dahlia Tour Final 1996	October 29, 1997	－	December 4, 2002	September 25, 2013	Atlantic	58
X Japan Clips II	October 24, 2001	－	October 24, 2001	－	Atlantic	12
The Last Live Video	March 29, 2002	－	March 29, 2002	－	Atlantic	7
Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I & Part II	－	－	December 4, 2002	－	Atlantic	82
Art of Life 1993.12.31 Tokyo Dome	September 24, 2003	－	September 24, 2003	－	Atlantic	9
Aoi Yoru	－	－	July 25, 2007	September 25, 2013	Geneon	50
Shiroi Yoru	－	－	July 25, 2007	September 25, 2013	Geneon	49
Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition	－	－	July 25, 2007	－	Geneon	14
X Japan Returns 1993.12.30	－	－	February 29, 2008	September 25, 2013	Geneon	30
X Japan Returns 1993.12.31	－	－	February 29, 2008	September 25, 2013	Geneon	43
X Japan Returns Complete Edition	－	－	February 29, 2008	－	Geneon	8
X Visual Shock DVD Box 1989-1992	－	－	July 23, 2008	－	Ki/oon	33
X Japan Showcase in L.A. Premium Prototype	－	－	September 6, 2010	－	Japan Music Agency	－
The Last Live Complete Edition	－	－	October 26, 2011	September 25, 2013	Geneon	3
X Japan Blu-ray Box	－	－	－	September 25, 2013	Warner Music Japan	－

Demos

Title	Release date	Note
"I'll Kill You"	1984	Songs: "Ill Kill You", "We Are X" and "Stop Bloody Rain"
"Live"	June 1985	Songs: "Kurenai", "Endless Dream", "Lady in Tears" and "Stop Bloody Rain"
"Endless Dream"	June 1985	Same material as "Live" but different track order.
"Longing ~Togireta Melody~"	December 30/31, 1994 July 25, 2007 (reissue)	Songs: "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" and band rehearsal. Originally distributed on cassette at both the "Aoi Yoru" and "Shiroi Yoru" concerts. Released on CD in the Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition DVD boxset.

Unreleased songs

• "Beneath the Skin"

Originally written by Sugizo for S.K.I.N., X Japan began playing it in 2014.

• "Feel Me Tonight"

Lyrics by Yoshiki, music by Hally.

• "Hero"
• Written by Yoshiki for Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary and performed by his Violet UK project, X Japan began performing it in 2014.
• "Install"

Also known as "Feels Damage".

• "Kiss the Sky"
• "Only Way"

Lyrics by Jun and Toshi, music by Jun.

• "Right Now"

Written by Jun.

• "Tuneup Baby"

Written by Jun.

• "Without You"

Originally an orchestrated instrumental piece written by Yoshiki and released on his 2005 album Eternal Melody II. Only performed by X Japan on March 28–30 at their 2008 Tokyo Dome reunion concerts, at the hide memorial summit on May 3, 2008, in Hong Kong on January 16, 2009, once again at the Tokyo Dome on May 2–3, 2009 and in Taipei on May 20, 2009. A live version will be included on The World ~X Japan Hatsu no Zensekai Best~ compilation.

Other

• Gekitotsu!! – Color, January 1988

X appear as guests.

• Tokyo Pop, April 15, 1988

X makes a brief cameo appearance.^[21]

• "Kurenai (Original Japanese Version)", June 1988, Extasy

A flexi disc included in an issue of Rockin' f magazine. Contrary to the title the lyrics are mostly in English. This version does not appear anywhere else.

• Bosutsu! VOS No.9, November 5, 1988

VHS that came with a magazine. Live clips of X from September 4, 1988 are shown and Yoshiki is interviewed.

• Unrivaled is Extasy ~ Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan, February 21, 1992, Extasy

Live recordings of a 1991 Extasy Summit, held by Extasy Records. Also features Tokyo Yankees, Virus, Luna Sea and several others.

• Minna ga Mumei-Datta, Dakedo... Muteki-Datta ~ Extasy Summit 1992, May 10, 1993, Extasy

Live recordings of the October 31, 1992 Extasy Summit, held by Extasy Records. X does not perform together, but the members do perform with other acts. Also features Luna Sea, Deep, Media Youth, The Zolge, Tokyo Yankees, Screaming Mad George and Psychosis, Gilles de Rais, Zi:Kill and several others.

• X Japan Virtual Shock 001, October 20, 1995, Sega

Video game for the Sega Saturn home console. The player takes the role of a fan disguised as a photographer backstage at X Japan's December 31, 1994 concert at the Tokyo Dome (Shiroi Yoru). After collecting several items to gain access and photograph the band members, the player edits a live video of "Rusty Nail" and the game ends with footage from the concert.^[22][23]

• Global Metal, June 20, 2008

Various live clips of X are shown and Yoshiki is interviewed.

• We Are X, January 23, 2016

Documentary about X Japan and Yoshiki.

References

1. Yang, Jeff; Can, Dina; Hong, Terry (1997). Eastern Standard Time. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 264. ISBN 0-395-76341-X.
2. Minnie, Chi. "X Japan Best review". Asia Pacific Arts Online Magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
3. Strauss, Neil (18 June 1998). "The Pop Life: End of a Life, End of an Era". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
4. "X Japan Take Home ‘Best International Band’ Award at Golden Gods=". Loudwire. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
5. "X Japan Embark on Their First American Tour". Revolver. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
6. "X Japan: They're huge (really), and they're (finally) coming to the U.S.". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
7. "X JAPANのアルバム売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
8. "Indies eXplosion: The Early History of X JAPAN". JRock Revolution. 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
9. "X、初期のリマスター再発商品2作が好調！". Oricon (in Japanese). 2007-02-14. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
10. "RIAJ CERTIFIED MILLION SELLER ALBUMS". ocn.ne.jp. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
11. "[Interview]YOSHIKI: "You Have to Force Your Way Through." (Part One)". barks.jp. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
12. "Oricon Top 100 2014: Albums". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
13. http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2014&targetTime=07&nationGbn=E
14. "X JAPANのシングル売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
15. "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-03-17.
16. "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-03-17.
17. "Billboard Japan Hot 100│Charts│Billboard JAPAN". Billboard (in Japanese). Retrieved 2015-11-16.
18. "HEAVY METAL FORCE III". amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
19. "SKULL TRASH ZONE I". japan-discoveries.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
20. "X JAPANのDVD売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
21. "Tokyo Pop (1988)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
22. "X Japan Virtual Shock 001 information". GameFAQs.
23. "FAQ for X-Japan Virtual Shock 001 (Sega Saturn)". GameFAQs.