Some songs refuse to stay in the past. Thirty years after X JAPAN released “Forever Love,” the ballad that soundtracked an entire era of Japanese rock, composer YOSHIKI has just given it a second life — and he did it with American vocal superstar Josh Groban singing it in Japanese. The new recording, captured live at Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, drops worldwide on August 28. And according to YOSHIKI himself, hearing Groban wrap his voice around the original Japanese lyrics moved him beyond words.
A Historic Night at Walt Disney Concert Hall
The story begins on July 17, 2026 — night two of YOSHIKI’s first-ever performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, both of which sold out completely. Midway through the evening, Josh Groban walked onstage as a surprise guest, and what followed became the moment everyone in the building knew they’d witnessed something rare.
The pair performed a brand-new orchestral arrangement of “Forever Love,” rebuilt by YOSHIKI for piano, full orchestra, and voice. That exact performance is what fans will be able to stream this week, credited to YOSHIKI feat. Josh Groban.
The Song That Defined a Generation
For anyone who wasn’t there in the ’90s: “Forever Love” isn’t just any power ballad. Written and composed by YOSHIKI and originally sung by X JAPAN vocalist Toshi, the 1996 single became one of Japan’s most beloved ballads — a song about love, loss, and feelings that outlive time itself.
It also crossed into anime history as the theme song for the 1996 animated film X, adapted from CLAMP’s legendary manga. In other words, this is a track that sits at the intersection of J-rock royalty and anime nostalgia — which is exactly why the internet is losing its mind over this duet.
What Makes This Version Different
This isn’t a simple karaoke-style rehash. The new version opens with English lyrics written fresh by YOSHIKI, before Groban takes over — performing both the original Japanese verses and additional English sections. For an artist best known for selling over 35 million albums in English, Groban singing in Japanese is a genuinely rare event, and his deep, operatic tone gives the melody a weight that feels almost cinematic.
“Josh brought such incredible emotion and depth to ‘Forever Love,'” YOSHIKI said in the announcement. “When I heard him sing this song in Japanese, I was deeply moved. This song has connected me with so many people in Japan over the years, and I hope that through this performance, its message of love reaches people all over the world.”
Groban’s answer? Pure respect. “YOSHIKI is truly an icon, and ‘Forever Love’ is one of the songs that defines him,” he shared. “To help breathe new life into this beautiful song across language and genre barriers is a profound honor.”
When Can You Hear It?
- Release date: August 28, 2026 — worldwide digital release
- Credit: YOSHIKI feat. Josh Groban
- Recorded at: Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles (July 17, 2026)
- Pre-save: Live now on all major streaming platforms
An official preview clip is also up on YouTube, and it’s already pulling in fans from both sides of the Pacific — rock loyalists who grew up on X JAPAN, and classical-crossover listeners who know Groban from his own chart-topping albums.
More Than Just One Song
The collaboration fits right into a huge stretch for Japanese music on the world stage. Studio Ghibli legend Joe Hisaishi recently smashed three Guinness World Records, Kenshi Yonezu is sneaking his way into live-action adaptations, and even Nirvana’s Dave Grohl is now tied to an anime opening theme. Japanese music isn’t knocking on the global door anymore — it’s already inside.
And if you love seeing musicians leap across genres and borders, these stories are worth your time:
- Studio Ghibli Legend Joe Hisaishi Just Smashed 3 Guinness World Records
- Kenshi Yonezu Is Secretly Hiding Inside the Live-Action Look Back Movie
- Nirvana Officially Becomes the Opening Theme for the Green Yuri Anime — Announced by Dave Grohl Himself
What do you think?
Is “Forever Love” the kind of timeless classic that deserves orchestral rebirths every few decades — or should legendary songs be left untouched? Does Josh Groban singing in Japanese make you more curious to hear it, and which X JAPAN song would you want to see get the same treatment next? Drop your thoughts in the comments — and don’t forget to give the duet a listen when it lands on August 28.
