Eiji Hanaoka

Hanaoka is one of the leading clarinet players in Japan. He graduated from a music course at the Nihon University College of Art. Hanaoka studied clarinet under Yukio Ohashi and Risei Kitazume, and began working professionally while still a student. Hanaoka formed various groups from combos to orchestras, showcasing their versatile artistic abilities — the main group being the Benny Goodman-style swing combo, Eiji Hanaoka Swing All Stars. Every June, Hanaoka organizes a memorial concert for Benny Goodman, who passed away on June 13, 1986. Since 1996, he has been invited to perform as a soloist at festivals and concerts throughout Europe and the United States every year. He has a long history serving as a lecturer at Nihon University College of Art. In 2021 he received the Araebisu Cultural Prize and the Grand Japan Jazz Award.