Hello! Hello!

Eight years after his debut, Riki Kondo-widely known as the "Naniwa Lightning-Fast Ukulele Boy"-returns at the age of 18 with his long-awaited full-length album HELLO! HELLO!.

The album is produced by Gota Nishidera and Tomoya Yamagata of NONA REEVES. While opening up new possibilities for the ukulele as an instrument, the record fuses pop and soul sensibilities across seven tracks in this digital-only release.

As he transitions from boyhood to young adulthood, Kondo's fresh pop instincts and solid musicianship come together in a vivid portrait of growth and change-music that captures the moment he is in right now. The title track "HELLO! HELLO!"is a straight-ahead pop anthem that honestly reflects the emotions of an 18-year-old. Bright, breezy, and rock-driven, it feels like a song that gently ushers listeners into a "new season."
"You Are a Monster" is a bouncy, danceable pop tune powered by a Motown beat, written and composed by Kondo himself. Closing the album is "BABY LOVER," a cover of a song originally included on Gota Nishidera's solo album HEARTBREAK. Written by Nishidera at the age of 12, the song is reborn through Kondo's fresh vocals and youthful sensitivity.

With the assured production of the NONA REEVES team resonating alongside the sensibilities of an 18-year-old artist, this album stands as one of the first true pop anthems of 2026.
The hope and regenerative energy carried in the word "HELLO!" reaches out to all listeners living in the present moment-marking the beginning of a new chapter for Riki Kondo.

Participating Musicians:
Riki Kondo - Vocal & Ukulele
Gota Nishidera - Programming, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion & Chorus
Tomoya Yamagata - Guitars, Programming & Chorus
Shigeru Komatsu - Drums
Junichi "Sunapang" Sunayama - Bass
Kensuke Okuda - Keyboards & Guitars
kuboty - Guitars & Bass on "HELLO! HELLO!"
Yuzuru Tomita - All Instruments on "BABY LOVER"