Yoshiki, Yoshitomo Nara & Hiroyuki Sanada Shine in TIME’s 2025 100 Most Influential People List
Discover why a top magazine celebrates X Japan’s singer, Hinagiku no Jinsei’s illustrator, and a standout Shōgun actor.
Time Magazine Names YOSHIKI, Yoshitomo Nara, and Hiroyuki Sanada Among 2025's Most Influential People
Time Magazine has announced its list of the world's 100 most influential people for 2025. This year, several prominent figures from Japan's music, art, and entertainment industries have made a significant impact internationally.
YOSHIKI Honored as an Icon
YOSHIKI, the acclaimed singer of rock band X Japan, has been selected in the "Icons" category. Known for his influential career both as a band member and solo artist, YOSHIKI has contributed to:
- Composing songs for anime such as:
X Japan’s music played a key role in the X² music video collection and the later X movie, both animated by Studio Madhouse and adapted from CLAMP’s X manga.
After disbanding in 1997 and the loss of guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, the surviving original members—Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama, Yoshiki Hayashi, Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka, and Hiroshi "Heath" Morie—reunited in 2007. Recently, YOSHIKI joined forces with HYDE, SUGIZO, and MIYAVI to form The Last Rockstars, expanding his impact further across the music world.
Yoshitomo Nara and Hiroyuki Sanada Also Recognized
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Yoshitomo Nara ("Artists" category): The celebrated artist gained additional recognition for illustrating Banana Yoshimoto’s novel Hinagiku no Jinsei. This book is inspiring Masaaki Yuasa’s upcoming anime film Daisy's Life.
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Hiroyuki Sanada ("Icons" category): As the lead actor and producer of the Shōgun series, Sanada continues to build his reputation. He is also well-known for his roles in the Ring and Onmyoji films.
Past Honorees from Japan
Time Magazine has previously recognized influential Japanese figures, including:
- Hayao Miyazaki (2024), legendary Studio Ghibli creator
- Hidetaka Miyazaki, game creator of Elden Ring and Dark Souls (2023)
For more about this year's honorees, read the full feature on Time and Deadline (Greg Evans).