Metal Hammer Germany recently attended X JAPAN's reunion shows in Tokyo, Japan, which took place at the end of March. Correspondent Melanie Aschenbrenner spoke briefly with drummer/founder Yoshiki Hayashi. Following is an excerpt from the interview (available in the June 2008 issue), translated from German by BW&BK; scribe Carl Begai.

Q: The name X Japan is often linked to the Visual Kei movement. Do you think the two belong together?

Yoshiki: "When we started making music we didn't know if anyone would like our sound. We just wanted to be different from everyone else, the blackest sheep of the family, and with the spikey hair and make-up we didn't make life easy for ourselves. Visual Kei started when we broke up, a movement that can be found around the world today, which I think is great. I do think that we were partly responsible for that."

Q: Are you part of Visual Kei today?

Yoshiki: "Visual Kei isn't only about make-up and styling. It stands for imagination and creativity, for the will to be different even though it's much harder these days to break the rules. That said, yes, I think we are."

Q: The last time out you could only imagine bringing your music to the rest of the world. Are you looking at a second attempt with this reunion?

Yoshiki: "That was our dream over 10 years ago, but that isn't why we came back. We're doing this for ourselves.

Q: What was the best part of the reunion concerts for you?

Yoshiki: "The fans. It was amazing to hear the audience again. We've played a lot of shows at Tokyo Dome, so it was like a homecoming."

'Stab Me In The Back' (1988)

'Silent Jealousy' (2008)

As previously reported, X Japan have scheduled the following shows outside Japan:

July

5 - Paris, France - Villepinte Parc D'exposition

August

2 - Taipei, Taiwan - Taipei World Trade Center

September

13 - New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden