The discography of the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan consists of five studio albums, six live albums, one remix album, eleven compilations, one soundtrack album, 23 singles, and around 22 live video recordings.
Founded in 1982 by vocalist Toshi and drummer Yoshiki, X Japan started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. With the member line-up including bassist Taiji and guitarists hide and Pata since 1987, X released their debut studio album Vanishing Vision on Yoshiki's own record label Extasy Records the following year. They then achieved breakthrough success with their second album and major label debut, Blue Blood, in 1989. It was followed by the million-selling Jealousy (1991), which is the band's most diverse album in terms of songwriting credits. In 1992, the band changed their name to X Japan and bassist Taiji left the group, being replaced by Heath. The mini-album Art of Life was released in 1993, composed solely of the 29-minute title track. Their last album Dahlia was released in 1996, and the following year the band decided to break up. However, after ten years, X Japan reunited in 2007 and recorded the new song "I.V.". They officially recruited lead guitarist Sugizo to fill-in for the deceased hide two years later and in 2011 had their first worldwide release, the digital single "Jade". Shortly after reuniting, work began on their sixth studio album. During its ten years of production, several release dates were announced, but it remains unreleased despite being completed in September 2018.
Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the band is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei, a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam. X Japan have sold millions of records in Japan, claiming un-certified sales of over 30 million.
Albums
Studio albums Title Album details Peak positions Sales Certifications JPN Vanishing Vision Released: April 14, 1988 Label: Extasy Formats: CD, cassette, LP, digital download 19 JPN: 171,030 or 800,000 Blue Blood Released: April 21, 1989 Label: CBS/Sony Formats: CD, cassette, LP, digital download 6 JPN: 712,000 or 1,000,000 : Platinum Jealousy Released: June 1, 1991 Label: Sony Formats: CD, cassette, LP, digital download 1 JPN: 1,113,000 RIAJ: Million Art of Life Released: August 25, 1993 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 1 JPN: 600,000 KOR: 7,908 RIAJ: Platinum Dahlia Released: November 4, 1996 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, cassette, LP, digital download 1 JPN: 648,080 RIAJ: Platinum
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak positions Sales Certifications JPN X Singles Released: November 21, 1993 Label: Ki/oon Formats: CD, cassette, LP, digital download 2 JPN: 1,000,000 RIAJ: Million B.O.X ~Best of X~ Released: March 21, 1996 Label: Ki/oon Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 5 JPN: 134,510 Ballad Collection Released: December 19, 1997 Label: Polydor Formats: CD, cassette 3 JPN: 566,160 RIAJ: Platinum X Japan Singles ~Atlantic Years~ Released: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic Format: CD 14 JPN: 102,450 Special Box Released: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic Format: CD 96 JPN: 2,800 Single Box Released: December 25, 1997 Label: Atlantic Format: CD — JPN: 4,650 Star Box Released: January 30, 1999 Label: Sony Music Formats: CD, cassette 4 JPN: 122,330 Perfect Best Released: February 24, 1999 Label: Atlantic Format: CD 4 JPN: 256,440 RIAJ: Gold Best: Fan's Selection Released: December 19, 2001 Label: Polydor Formats: CD, cassette 13 JPN: 88,600 Complete II Released: October 1, 2005 Label: Columbia Format: CD 92 JPN: 3,593 The World: X Japan Hatsu no Zensekai Best (The World～X Japan 初の全世界ベスト～) Released: June 17, 2014 Label: Warner Music Japan Format: CD 2 JPN: 61,030 KOR: 329 RIAJ: Gold
Live albums Title Album details Peak positions Sales Certifications JPN On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live Released: January 1, 1995 Label: Ki/oon Formats: CD, cassette, digital download 3 JPN: 335,590 RIAJ: Gold Live Live Live Tokyo Dome 1993-1996 Released: October 15, 1997 Label: Polydor Format: CD 3 JPN: 283,970 RIAJ: Gold Live Live Live Extra Released: November 5, 1997 Label: Warner Music Japan Format: CD 13 JPN: 32,310 Live in Hokkaido 1995.12.4 Bootleg Released: January 21, 1998 Label: Universal Music Format: CD 20 JPN: 38,940 Art of Life Live Released: March 18, 1998 Label: Polydor Formats: CD, digital download 20 JPN: 41,170 The Last Live Released: May 30, 2001 Label: Polydor Formats: CD, digital download 7 JPN: 92,780
Remix albums Title Album details Peak positions Sales JPN Trance X Released: December 4, 2002 Label: Polydor Format: CD 27 JPN: 27,195
Soundtrack albums Title Album details Peak positions Sales JPN KOR UK We Are X: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Released: March 3, 2017 Label: Sony Music Formats: CD, digital download, LP 3 65 27 JPN: 48,140Physical sales: 2017-03-13: 2017-03-20: 2017-03-27: 2017-04-03: 2017-04-10: 2017-04-17: Digital sales: 2017-03-13: 2017-03-20: KOR: 693
Singles Title Year Peak positions Sales Certifications Album JPN JPN HotJapan Hot 100: "I'll Kill You" 1985 — — JPN: 1,000 rowspan="2" "Orgasm" (オルガスム) 1986 — — JPN: 1,500 "Kurenai" (紅) 1989 5 20 JPN: 312,580 JPN: 350,000 RIAJ: Platinum Blue Blood "Endless Rain" 3 — JPN: 364,450 RIAJ: Platinum "Week End" 1990 2 — JPN: 298,060 RIAJ: Platinum "Silent Jealousy" 1991 3 — JPN: 284,200 JPN: 100,000 RIAJ: Gold Jealousy "Standing Sex" 4 — JPN: 261,340 RIAJ: Gold "Say Anything" 3 — JPN: 537,790 RIAJ: Platinum Jealousy "Tears" 1993 2 — JPN: 836,940 RIAJ: 2×Platinum Dahlia "Rusty Nail" 1994 1 — JPN: 751,920 RIAJ: Platinum "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" (Longing ～跡切れたMelody～) 1995 1 — JPN: 476,170 RIAJ: Platinum "Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~" (Longing ～切望の夜～) 5 — JPN: 171,550 "Dahlia" 1996 1 — JPN: 412,810 RIAJ: Platinum Dahlia "Forever Love" 1 — JPN: 509,920 RIAJ: Platinum "Crucify My Love" 2 — JPN: 290,220 RIAJ: Gold "Scars" 15 — JPN: 100,350 "Forever Love (Last Mix)" 1997 13 — JPN: 163,050 RIAJ: Gold rowspan="2" "The Last Song" 1998 8 — JPN: 91,880 "Forever Love" 18 — JPN: 42,960 Dahlia "Scars" 15 — JPN: 55,440 "Forever Love" 2001 19 — JPN: 23,500 "I.V." 2008 — — rowspan="5" "Scarlet Love Song -Buddha Mix-" 2011 — 33 "Jade" — 19 "Born to Be Free" 2015 — 21 "Angel" 2023 —
Various artists compilations TitleSongRelease dateLabelHeavy Metal Force III"Break the Darkness"November 7, 1985ExplosionSkull Thrash Zone Volume I"Stab Me in the Back", "No Connexion"March 7, 1987VictorGlobal Metal Soundtrack"X (Live)"July 24, 2008Universal
VHS / LD / DVD / Blu-ray Title Details Peak positions JPN Xclamation Released: August 1987, December 1987 Label: Self-released Format: VHS — Thanx Released: March 16, 1989 Label: CBS/Sony Format: VHS — Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen Gig Released: June 1, 1989 June 1, 1989 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — Shigeki! Visual Shock Vol. 2 Released: December 31, 1989 December 31, 1989 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — Celebration Visual Shock Vol. 2.5 Released: September 1, 1990 September 1, 1990 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — Shigeki 2 ~Yume no Nakadakeni Ikite~ Visual Shock Vol. 3 Released: September 30, 1991 September 30, 1991 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — Say Anything ~X Ballad Collection~ Visual Shock Vol. 3.5 Released: December 21, 1991 December 21, 1991 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live Visual Shock Vol. 4 Released: November 1, 1992 November 1, 1992 September 5, 2001 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD — X Clips Released: January 1, 1995 January 1, 1995 July 5, 2000 Label: Ki/oon Formats: VHS, LD, DVD 36 Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I Released: January 1, 1997 Label: Atlantic Format: VHS — Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part II Released: March 5, 1997 Label: Atlantic Format: VHS — Dahlia Tour Final 1996 Released: October 29, 1997 December 4, 2002 September 25, 2013 Label: Atlantic Formats: VHS, DVD, Blu-ray 58 X Japan Clips II Released: October 24, 2001 October 24, 2001 Label: Atlantic Formats: VHS, DVD 12 The Last Live Video Released: March 29, 2002 March 29, 2002 Label: Atlantic Formats: VHS, DVD 7 Dahlia the Video Visual Shock #5 Part I & Part II Released: December 4, 2002 Label: Atlantic Format: DVD 82 Art of Life 1993.12.31 Tokyo Dome Released: September 24, 2003 September 24, 2003 Label: Atlantic Formats: VHS, DVD 9 Aoi Yoru Released: July 25, 2007 September 25, 2013 Label: Geneon Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 50 Shiroi Yoru Released: July 25, 2007 September 25, 2013 Label: Geneon Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 49 Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition Released: July 25, 2007 Label: Geneon Format: DVD 14 X Japan Returns 1993.12.30 Released: February 29, 2008 September 25, 2013 Label: Geneon Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 30 X Japan Returns 1993.12.31 Released: February 29, 2008 September 25, 2013 Label: Geneon Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 43 X Japan Returns Complete Edition Released: February 29, 2008 Label: Geneon Format: DVD 8 X Visual Shock DVD Box 1989-1992 Released: July 23, 2008 Label: Ki/oon Format: DVD 33 X Japan Showcase in L.A. Premium Prototype Released: September 6, 2010 Label: Japan Music Agency Format: DVD — The Last Live Complete Edition Released: October 26, 2011 September 25, 2013 Label: Geneon Formats: DVD, Blu-ray 3 X Japan Blu-ray Box Released: September 25, 2013 Label: Warner Music Japan Format: Blu-ray — X Visual Shock Blu-ray Box: 1989-1992 Released: January 18, 2017 Label: Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc. Format: Blu-ray —
Demos TitleRelease dateNote"I'll Kill You"February 1985Songs: "I'll Kill You", "We Are X" and "Stop Bloody Rain""Live"June 1985Songs: "Kurenai", "Endless Dream", "Lady in Tears" and "Stop Bloody Rain""Endless Dream"June 1985Same material as "Live" but different track order."Longing ~Togireta Melody~"December 30/31, 1994July 25, 2007 (reissue)Songs: "Longing ~Togireta Melody~" and band rehearsal. Originally distributed on cassette at both the Aoi Yoru and Shiroi Yoru concerts. Released on CD in the Aoi Yoru Shiroi Yoru Complete Edition DVD boxset.
Unreleased songs "Feel Me Tonight" Lyrics by Yoshiki, music by Hally. "Install" Also known as "Feels Damage". "Kill the Violence" "Kiss the Sky" Planned to be included on the band's unreleased album. "L'arme" Left-over from the Jealousy album. Part of the song was performed in 2015. "Only Way" Lyrics by Jun and Toshi, music by Jun. "Right Now" Written by Jun. "Rockstar" Planned to be included on the band's unreleased album. "Steal Your Heart" "Tuneup Baby" Written by Jun. "White Poem II" Sequel to "White Poem I" from the Dahlia album.
Other Gekitotsu!! – Color, February 1988 X provide chorus vocals as guests. Tokyo Pop, April 15, 1988 X makes a brief cameo appearance. "Kurenai (Original Japanese Version)", May 1988, Rockin' f and Extasy A flexi disc included in the June 1988 issue of Rockin' f magazine. , November 1988, Takarajima VHS that came with Takarajima magazine. Live clips of X from September 4, 1988, are shown and Yoshiki is interviewed. Also features Color, Uchoten, Kenji Ohtsuki and several others. Symphonic Blue Blood, August 21, 1991 Symphonic album, performed by the Tokyo Academic Chamber Orchestra. Muteki to Kaite Extasy to Yomu!! Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan, February 21, 1992, Extasy Live recordings of the October 29, 1991, Extasy Summit, held by Extasy Records. Also features Tokyo Yankees, Virus, Luna Sea and several others. Symphonic Silent Jealousy, August 26, 1992