Toshimitsu Deyama (Japanese: 出山 利三, Hepburn: Deyama Toshimitsu, born October 10, 1965), known exclusively by his stage name Toshi,[Note 1] is a Japanese singer and songwriter who is the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the rock band X Japan, who rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is credited as founders of the visual kei movement.

[2] In 1977, Toshi and his childhood friend Yoshiki formed a band called Dynamite in their hometown of Tateyama, Chiba, when they were just 11 years old.

They would become one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,[4] and were later widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei.

[10] Shortly after the release of 1993's Art of Life, which also topped the Oricon chart,[7] the members of X Japan took a break to start solo projects.

[7] In August 1997 Toshi first saw a concert of Tōru Kurabuchi [ja], better known as Masaya, a musician and the leader of an organization called Home of Heart (formerly known as Lemuria Island, and later as Healing World).

In September 1998, the magazine Shūkan Gendai published several stories claiming Toshi was brainwashed by Home of Heart,[13] selling their music and other products, and being used as a spokesman.

[11] From that point onwards, Toshi's musical output was written and produced by Masaya and released through Home of Heart and their label Healing World.

[11] According to a report by the newspaper Sponichi, Toshi visited Yoshiki in Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on the song "Without You" as a tribute to former X Japan guitarist Hide, who died in 1998.

[17] Rumors of a X Japan reunion subsequently began, and in June Yoshiki was reported as having expressed interest in a tour (beginning in Los Angeles), "Without You" being released as a single and that he was in talks with Heath and Pata regarding their participation.

Their first album Earth Spirit was released on August 8, they dubbed their music "eco hard rock", as the reason for starting the band was to draw attention to the environment.

[19] On January 18, 2010, Toshi filed a lawsuit against his record company Home of Heart, accusing them of claiming all of his income over the past 12 years, eventually forcing him to announce bankruptcy.

It was a high-end dinner show, where the attendees were served a French meal by renowned chef Mikuni Kiyomi, and enjoyed a piano duet by Toshi and Yoshiki, an orchestra was also utilized.

All of the shows were acoustic due to the electricity shortage and featured X Japan's Heath, Luna Sea's Shinya and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa.

[28] On August 25, he held a special concert at Zepp Diver City where he was supported by a one-off band consisting of Kei (baroque), Yuu (Merry), Akinori (lynch.)

[29] Toshi collaborated with Sukekiyo, singing on the track "Ameagari no Yūshi" (雨上がりの優詩) included with the limited edition of their 2015 mini album Vitium.

[34] On September 3, he released a food book titled Sweets Memory, Gâteau Chocolate (スイーツメモリー ガトーショコラ ダァ, Suītsu Memorī Gatō Shokorada).

[35] In September, it was announced that Toshi had signed with Universal Music Group, where he would release a cover album titled Im a Singer on November 28.

His opening performance to "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" from the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion in Kobe and Toyama attracted international media attention.

[38] Notable was also his live music collaboration with figure skater and two-time Olympic champion, Yuzuru Hanyu, to the songs "Masquerade" and "Crystal Memories".

[39] Since their first encounter at Fantasy on Ice, Toshi has expressed his admiration for Hanyu on multiple occasions and rooted for him to succeed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.