Tanaka Akihiro

First place in the 2010 International Finger Style Guitar Championship was awarded to Akihiro Tanaka of Kyoto, Japan. When his name was announced backstage as the first place winner, he just fell to his knees and if he said “thank you” once, he said it a hundred times. In addition to the guitar he also plays percussion, bass and piano. Akihiro is a full time musician who has been playing the guitar since he was 11-years old. He placed second in this competition in 2009. Akihiro also teaches guitar but most of his students are adults. He says his hobby is “shopping.” For his efforts he chose the Gallagher GA-70 Custom Guitar by J.W. Gallagher & Son of Wartrace, TN.