YOSHIKI Evacuates Amid LA Wildfires as Events Proceed
Japanese rock icon YOSHIKI has announced his evacuation from Los Angeles due to the ongoing wildfires that have been affecting the area. On January 9, he shared via social media that a fire had erupted in Hollywood, where his recording studio is situated. He stated, “A mandatory evacuation order has just been issued for my location in LA. I will be evacuating now too.” Although his studio remains unharmed for the moment, YOSHIKI took precautionary measures by relocating hard drives containing valuable audio and video content.
Wildfire Crisis in Los Angeles
The situation escalated quickly as YOSHIKI first alerted fans about the emergency on January 8, when he mentioned that Los Angeles was under a state of emergency and that staff members were beginning to evacuate. Just a day later, he confirmed his own evacuation from the city.
In light of these events, YOSHIKI expressed gratitude for safety while emphasizing the importance of protecting creative work: “My LA studio is fine for now. However, just to be on the safe side, all recordings and filming materials have been moved outside.”
Anime Los Angeles Convention Continues Despite Fires
Despite these alarming circumstances surrounding wildfires in California, Anime Los Angeles has decided to proceed with its scheduled convention at Long Beach Convention Center from Thursday through Sunday. The event organizers urged attendees to take necessary precautions for their safety while assuring them they would monitor developments closely throughout the weekend.
Oscar Nominations Delayed Due to Emergency Measures
In contrast to Anime Los Angeles’s decision to continue operations amid adversity, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a delay in its Oscar nominations announcement originally set for January 17; it will now occur on January 19 instead. Additionally, voting has been extended until January 14 at 5:00 p.m., although no changes have yet been made regarding the date of this year’s Oscar ceremony scheduled for March 2.
The Dolby Theatre—home of the Oscars—was also under an evacuation order due to nearby fires but this directive was lifted shortly thereafter.
Cancellations Impacting Film Premieres
The live-action adaptation of Under Ninja faced significant disruptions as well; its world premiere planned for Wednesday was canceled due to California’s state of emergency declaration. This screening was set at TCL Chinese Theatre adjacent to Dolby Theatre and would have featured lead actors Kento Yamazaki and Minami Hamabe participating in a Q&A session post-screening.
As reported by CBS News earlier this week, five major fires are currently raging across Southern California: Palisades Fire (which alone has consumed over 17,000 acres), Eaton Fire, Hurst Fire among others—all contributing significantly towards widespread evacuations across various neighborhoods.
Universal Studios Closes Temporarily
In response to these emergencies impacting public safety within Hollywood areas including Universal Studios Hollywood—which houses attractions like Super Nintendo World—the theme park closed its doors on Wednesday and Thursday but anticipates reopening by Friday following assessments regarding fire threats.
As communities rally together during this challenging time marked by natural disasters affecting many lives across Southern California—including artists like YOSHIKI—there remains hope that both cultural events can continue safely while prioritizing public health concerns amidst ongoing wildfire threats.
Intern at SMK University