Journey Through Strings and Stories

Experience the spellbinding artistry of Hiroya Tsukamoto, a Japanese-born master of fingerstyle guitar and evocative storytelling, as he visits the Cherry for the first time to perform songs from his newest album, Rainshadow. On this latest project, Tsukamoto uses his composing and songwriting talents to hone in on crafting compelling, memorable, and singable melodies. He writes, “Through this record, I hope you will find some melodies that resonate with you and that you end up humming in your daily life.”

Recognized for his dizzyingly agile fingerpicking and his soulful performances, Tsukamoto invites audiences into his world of musical exploration and emotional expression. Come witness a performer who has been celebrated for his “delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” style (Acoustic Guitar Magazine), and for his ability to take listeners on an “impressionistic journey” (Boston Herald).

Tsukamoto, who relocated to the U.S. in 2000 to attend the Berklee College of Music, has been recognized for his talents on stages such as Blue Note in New York City, Japanese National Television (NHK), International Storytelling Center, and United Nations. He notched second place at the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.

Aside from his significant musical prowess, Tsukamoto is a soulful and transcendent performer, with compositions that mesh instrumental guitar work with lyrical performance and spoken stories from his life.