When Time Magazine recently named the Japanese multi-media artist Yoshiki one of its “100 Most Influential People of 2025,” it was a well-deserved acknowledgement of a visionary four-decade career. And the person who was probably. the least surprised to see that honor was Shelton G. Berg, Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
While the Frost School has a long history with the rock band X Japan's leader, Berg has an even longer one. The two have worked together extensively over the years on a wide range of projects, from a 2017 “Classical Special” concert and PBS program shot at New York’s Carnegie Hall to collaborations with everyone from the Tokyo Philharmonic to Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
“Yoshiki is a gifted artist with an almost unlimited work ethic,” says Berg. “He is constantly juggling projects across disparate fields and sometimes works around the clock for days on end. In a musical environment, he hears every note, no matter how complex the music or orchestration. He constantly refines the music throughout the rehearsal or recording process. None of this activity is gratuitous, but rather highly intentional as he works towards a clear vision.”
As a sign of their mutual respect, the non-profit Yoshiki Foundation America made a $150,000 donation to the Frost School in 2019. In response, Dean Berg renamed his office suite after Yoshiki.
“I have worked with Yoshiki for 30 years,” says Dean Berg. “He was a very young rock star when we met. Based on the tenure and quality of our relationship, I asked if he would honor me by naming my new office. He immediately agreed. Yoshiki is well-aware of our school and the relevance and excellence of our curricula. He is also highly interested in music therapy and music as healing, and that has drawn him to support Frost.”
As part of the ceremonies around the 2019 donation, Yoshiki visited the Frost School and taught a well-received master class at the university’s Gusman Hall.
“Yoshiki’s master class for the Frost School revealed his kindness and compassion, which was a message he clearly delivered with reference to our obligations as artists,” says Dean Berg. “He also impressed on the students the amount of dedication required for a successful music career. Some of his fans came from around the U.S. and other countries just to see him speak!”
A major reason that Yoshiki’s career has lasted so long at such a high level is that he is focused on taking care of the fans, which Berg has witnessed firsthand.
“Yoshiki cares deeply about his fans, and typically spends hours after a concert signing autographs and taking pictures,” says Berg. “We did a sold-out concert in a 5,000-seat venue in Hong Kong. Some issues arose with the Chinese government, and they shut the concert down an hour before it began. Yoshiki cleared it up and invited the entire audience back the next evening, and he refunded all of the ticket revenue back to the audience members, so the next night was free. Everyone returned, and we performed for the full house.”
