Guitarist and singer-songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto, two-time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up guitar shortly after. Originally from Japan, Hiroya came to the United States in 2000 upon receiving a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. He formed the Boston-based group INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic) with musicians from around the world, including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums. and has been performing internationally, including several appearances at the United Nations, Japanese National Television (NHK), and the famed Blue Note in New York City.