Died in late October after battling cancer at age 55
Joined X Japan as bassist in 1992
Hitoshi (real name Hiroshi Morie), the bassist of Japan's national rock band XJapan, has passed away at the age of 55 after battling cancer.
On the 8th, Japanese media outlets Tokyo Sports and Post Seven reported, "It was revealed on the 7th that XJapan member Hitoshi passed away at the end of last month." Hitoshi had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.
The late Hitoshi appeared as a guest at a dinner show hosted by another XJapan member, Yoshiki, on August 20, where he performed the band's signature song "Rusty Nail," showing signs of good health. The sudden news of his death shocked XJapan fans and the Japanese public alike.
Hitoshi's Death Announced Through Yoshiki
The news of the deceased's passing was belatedly revealed through Yoshiki's social media post on the 3rd. At that time, Yoshiki posted a photo of himself wearing mourning clothes, stating, "Due to an unfortunate personal matter, I hurried back to Japan." He was scheduled to attend an awards ceremony held in San Francisco, USA, but it is known that he canceled and returned urgently. [Photo by Yoshiki Instagram]
XJapan was active from 1982 to 1997, gaining great popularity both domestically and internationally. After reuniting in 2007, they resumed activities but had been relatively inactive since 2018. Their live performance at Chiba Makuhari Messe in September of that year was their last stage as XJapan.
Even after the disbandment, other members of XJapan were active on social media, but Hitoshi never created an account, keeping his private life largely unknown. However, it was reported that he often expressed a desire to resume activities with XJapan.
The news of Hitoshi's death was belatedly revealed through Yoshiki's social media post on the 3rd. Yoshiki wrote, "Due to a personal misfortune, I hurried back to Japan," and posted a photo of himself wearing mourning clothes.
He was scheduled to attend an awards ceremony in San Francisco, USA, but canceled and returned to Japan urgently.
A band official said in an interview, "As a fan of XJapan, he was hardly active recently, so Hitoshi's recent condition was unknown. He passed away at the end of last month, but since it was decided not to announce it for a week, Yoshiki seemed to avoid specific comments. However, he probably wanted to convey something to the fans."
Born on January 22, 1968, Hitoshi was from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He began band activities in middle school and joined XJapan as a bassist in 1992. He was especially praised for his solid skills and synergy with Yoshiki, who was the drummer, supporting the band firmly.
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