Piano
Pianist and composer Hayato Sumino, also known as Cateen, captivates audiences worldwide with his artistry and vision. Hayato is among the leading figures of a fearless new generation of musicians who move effortlessly between genres, dismantling boundaries and embracing complete artistic freedom. His unique style — combining classical virtuosity, innovative arrangements, and improvisation — has made him a digital sensation with over 2.2 million followers across his social media platforms. Named to Forbes Japan’s “30 Under 30” in 2023, he is also an Artist Ambassador for Apple Music Classical, Steinway & Sons, and CASIO.
In 2025, Hayato received three prestigious awards: the Leonard Bernstein Award from the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and two Opus Klassik Awards — Young Talent of the Year and Solo Live Performance of the Year — becoming the first artist in history to win in two categories in the same year. His artistry blends wide-ranging musical interests, both as a pianist and composer.
In November 2025, Hayato made history by presenting the first-ever classical piano concert at K Arena Yokohama, one of Japan’s largest music-dedicated arenas. The one-night-only event sold 18,546 tickets and was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest indoor solo piano recital by ticket sales, setting a new benchmark for classical performance in an arena setting.
Hayato signed as an exclusive Sony Classical recording artist in 2024, and his second album will be released in January 2026. He holds a Master of Engineering from the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, where he was honoured with the President’s Award for his exceptional achievements in both music and engineering.
