At a Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins, a special event titled “Japanese Heritage Night” was held to celebrate Japanese culture and the Japanese-American community. During the event, Bi-ray—a vocal group produced by YOSHIKI—delivered a stunning rendition of the U.S. national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Remarkably, the group had not yet officially debuted, making this a historic performance by a Japanese artist on such a prominent stage.

With the Dodgers currently boasting a trio of Japanese stars—Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki—this year’s Japanese Heritage Night attracted more attention than ever. It was at YOSHIKI’s request that Bi-ray was selected to perform, showcasing their promise as a next-generation act from Japan.

YOSHIKI’s Custom Arrangement Brings Out the Best in Each Member

To prepare for this high-profile appearance, YOSHIKI arranged the anthem to match each member’s vocal range, ensuring that their individual talents could shine. As thousands of eyes turned toward the stage, the quartet filled Dodger Stadium with their beautiful harmonies, earning a roaring ovation from the stands.

Reflecting on the moment, the members of Bi-ray said:

“It was like a dream to be able to sing the U.S. national anthem at Dodger Stadium even before our debut. We were so nervous that our legs were trembling, but YOSHIKI’s encouragement gave us the confidence to perform.”

Who Is Bi-ray? Meet YOSHIKI’s Handpicked Vocal Powerhouse

Bi-ray is a four-member vocal group consisting of Emi, Hinata, Cocomi, and Michelle. Emi rose to fame after winning the 2023 Nippon TV singing competition “Kashō-ō (The Singing King),” where she caught the attention of YOSHIKI, who served as a special guest judge. Inspired by her performance, YOSHIKI chose to produce a group centered on Emi and the collective vocal power of the four members.

The group has already garnered international attention with their pre-debut performance video of “Butterfly -Short Version-,” an original track written by YOSHIKI. The video has surpassed 15 million views on YouTube, drawing praise from both domestic and overseas audiences.

A Major Announcement Is on the Horizon

YOSHIKI is currently working behind the scenes to prepare Bi-ray’s official debut, with a major announcement expected soon. With their recent groundbreaking performance at Dodger Stadium and growing global buzz, Bi-ray is poised to make a significant impact on the music scene both in Japan and beyond.

Source : ORICON NEWS