光山虎夫 公式サイト
ハワイで生まれた育ったシンガーソングライターsinger and songwriter based in Hawai`i
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光山虎夫 Hikariyama Torao
Stage name: Hikariyama Torao
Birth name: Tevita Apina
Birthday: January 03, 1996
Ethnic Backgound: Tongan, Italian, Puerto Rican
Hikariyama Torao was born Tevita Lisiate Apina Jr on January 3, 1996. He is of Tongan, Italian, and Puerto Rican heritage. He was raised by his grandmother, Catherine Apina-Correa and lived on Kahualena st in Waipahu, Hawai’i.
His grandmother’s wish was for him to learn the Italian language since she was born in Sicily. She bought him a children’s CDrom which contained multiple languages from around the world. When Tevita was around the age of two he would change the CD’s functions from Italian to Japanese. For some reason Tevita was attracted to the Japanese language at this age. He was so infatuated with the Japanese language he scoured the TV for whatever Japanese programs he could find. Around the age of four he found the TV show “Abarenbo Shogun” where he heard Kitajima Saburo sing the theme songs. That same year he watched the annual Kouhaku Utagassen (Red and White Festival) where he got to see other Enka singers perform. From this moment on Tevita knew he wanted to become a singer.
Tevita was faced with many illnesses at this age. He had enlarged heart disease, tuberculosis and around the fifth grade had Bell's palsy. Tevita never let any of the illnesses he faced hinder his love for music. That is why he was nicknamed “Tiger” for his fighting spirit by his grandmother.
He began learning the Ukulele in the fifth grade by local singer Sharon Sancez at Honowai Elementary school. In the sixth grade Tevita sang for their talent show, Kaze no Oiwake Minato Machi which ended up being a very pivotal choice in his life. In the audience was then kindergarten teacher “Amy Katsumoto” who was a student of Craig Shimizu and the Harada Naoyuki Minyo schools. Amy spoke with Tevita’s grandmother (Catherine) and agreed to take him to his first Minyo or classical Japanese singing classes.
When puberty came he was no longer able to hit the notes required for Minyo singing. That is when Amy Katsumoto took Tevita to her music instructor Craig Shimizu (who is a student of Harry Urata Sensei). Tevita auditioned with “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” to Craig Shimizu sensei and was given a full scholarship to his lessons under the condition that he would perform for his upcoming recital which was less than a week from then.
Tevita continued to take lessons from Craig Shimizu and throughout his lessons has entered multiple Japanese singing contests around Hawai’i. Finally in 2011 he became the youngest boy to win the Kzoo Taikai singing contest with a cover of Hosokawa Takashi’s Bokyo Jonkara. His dream had finally come true when the following year he went to Japan for the first time with Amy Katsumoto and his grandmother Catherine to enter the 2012 Nippon Armature Kayosai in Tokyo.
When he returned to Hawai’i he knew for sure what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to become a professional singer. With the help of Craig Shimizu, Kyoko Sano from Mele Music Records and all the money he made working at his first job at JTB he was able to put out his first single, “Koukai no Umi” at the age of 16. He took the stage name “Hikariyama” meaning “Shining Mountain” and “Torao” meaning “Tiger” after the nickname his grandmother had given to him.
Since then Torao has been singing throughout the Islands both Hawaiian music and Japanese music. In 2011 he was awarded “Honor and Congratulate” certificate by the Hawai’i’s state legislature.
Torao has released five singles and his newest single “Namida no Minato” celebrates his ten year anniversary of singing Enka music in Hawai’i.
He guest appears on the Japanese program “Hawaii ni Koishite” as well as appeared on the Japanese television programs Fuji TV’s“Nippon ga Daisuki Gaikokujin”, TV Asahi - Kanjani 8’s “Kanjani no Shiwake Manatsu no Karaoke” alongside Enka singer Nakamura Mitsuko,“Kin Kin Terebi” with actress and tv personality Utsumi Midori and composer Koga Yoshiya as well as local programs in Hawai’i.
In 2023 he was nominated for a Na Hoku Hanohano award for compilation album “Aloha & Mahalo 3” for his song “Torao no Tairyo Bune.” He was also the face / ambassador of Shirokiya Japan Village Walk and was a spokesperson for Kirin Beer Nights during the summer of 2019. In 2023 he started a Hawaiian “chalang-a-lang” band called “Na Wai’kane” with his friend Kalani Puana.
He is still a student of Craig Shimizu, an alaka’i for Hula Halau Paleo’onani Polenekia in Ewa Beach and the current reigning Champion of the 2023 Mr.Mt.Fuji contest presented by Miss Volunteer Hawai’i.