Profile:

Born in Tokyo, a pure Japanese.

 

At the age of 19, he moved to the United States and later traveled to Jamaica, Nepal, Brazil, and Cuba, becoming a lifelong traveler. He received guidance from the master drummer Aja Addy in Ghana, West Africa, and began his music career as a percussionist.

 

From 1999 to 2003, he was active in Tokyo's post-rock jam band "Kai," releasing two albums. During this time, he met OKI, a player of the traditional Ainu instrument tonkori, and joined tours with him. However, he set out on another journey afterward.

 

At one point, he suddenly started composing with a self-taught guitar under the name NAOITO, becoming a singer-songwriter. Leading with songs like "Factory Waltz", which sings of his nostalgia, and "HazeBlue", aiming for a new dawn, his highly eclectic musical style ranges from nostalgic Showa-era songs to world ethnic music, making it impossible to categorize by genre.

 

In 2009, he collaborated with the comprehensive creative team GROUNDRIDDIM, known for HIFANA, CHINZA DOPENESS, and DJ UPPERCUT, to produce his first album Zasshoku familia, released by P-vine Records in March 2010.

 

In March 2011, he released his second album 379DAYS from Tuff Beats.