Tokyo born and raised multi-instrumentalist Shugo Tokumaru began playing the piano at age 5, picked up the electric guitar at age 10 and continued to add the accordion, flute, woodblocks, xylophone and others to his repertoire. While in high school, Tokumaru was invited to join the fairly successful band Gellers and quickly became the band's primary song writer. After graduating, however, Tokumaru studied music and played in a jazz band in Los Angeles for two years. While he was there, the young musician recorded an album of layered bedroom pop in his home and gave the demo to a friend in the record industry. Many label executives were impressed, Tokumaru was then signed, both in Japan and the US, and has since continued to produce charming, catchy and overwhelmingly happy pop with Japanese lyrics and intricately layered instrumentals ever since. A favorite amongst many experimental indie bands in the US and a commercial success in his native country, Shugo Tokumaru's popularity will undoubtedly continue to grow.
