Shinichi Kakiuchi

October 19, 2026 • Nate Goore • News

Shinichi Kakiuchi brings an engineer's precision and a musician's ear to the Hawaiian steel guitar, and he has become one of HIMELE's most dedicated friends in Japan.

Shinichi makes his home in Fujimino City in Saitama Prefecture. Asked about interesting places near home, he points to Kawagoe, known as "Koedo," whose streets still recall the samurai era, and to the Railway Museum in Ōmiya.

Shinichi and Kumiko Kakiuichi with David Woodward and Kaipo Asing

His connection to HIMELE began online. In 2013 he came across the Maui Steel Guitar Festival on Facebook, and in 2014 he took part in the festival's open stage. Since then he has returned to Hawai?i again and again, performing at the Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival during Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week in 2024 and 2025. He and his wife, Kumiko, have also contributed performances to HIMELE's Virtual Open Stage Showcase.

Back home, Shinichi is leading the way for steel guitar in Japan. Each month he hosts a study session for HSGA Japan members on picking out steel guitar parts by ear from classic records, passing the sounds of the masters on to a new circle of players. He also provides live music for local hula hālau.

He also serves the Japnese steel guitar community by representing the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association (HSGA) as one of its Japan Coordinators.

Please see the complete tribute here.