ALOHA from IĀPANA

Artist Profile

• Kentaro Tsushima

  2015 Na Hoku Hanohano Award Winner 2018 Na Hoku Hanohano Award Nominee The Young Legend of Japanese Hawai'ian Music, Kentaro Tsushima Kentaro Tsushima made a sensational debut in 2014 with his album "KEPANĪ". His very first album won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award, which is often referred to as Hawai'ian Grammy Award, for International Album of the Year. Since then, he has released five albums, including a hit album that ranked number one on the Rakuten charts and received another nomination for the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 2018. He also won first place in the hula competition he played music in for the first time and has won a total of eight times, even participating in competitions in Hawai'i. He possesses an overwhelming vocal ability, seamlessly singing both ballads and up-tempo songs. His soulful piano playing is powerful, passionate, and filled with kindness, showcasing a solid foundation built in the United States, an extraordinary musical sensibility uncommon among Japanese artists, and above all, a soul that conveys the very beat of his heart. Despite the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on arts and culture, including hula and music, in 2021 and 2022, he conducted a nationwide tour titled "The GODDESS" as a project supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, focusing on the revival of hula in Japan. The tour was a great success, with all performances sold out. Starting in 2023, he launched a YouTube project "The HULA DANCER in IĀPANA," which aims to discover and support talented hula dancers from all over Japan, promoting the revival of hula in Japan. Renowned as the young legend of Japanese Hawai'ian music, he continues to shine in the Hawai'ian music scene across the country.

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