Born in Tokyo, Japan, TOYA became a professional musician at the young age of eleven. In 1991, after working on more than 100 CDs and many concert tours with famous artists in Japan, Toya decided to move to New York City. He has worked with world-renowned singers including Ben E. King (Stand By Me), Dionne Warwick, Maxine Brown (R&B Hall of Fame), Chuck Jackson, Dee Dee Sharp (R&R Hall of Fame), and many more as a Musical Director and or a keyboardist. Toya has also produced albums, concerts, television commercials, films, and music for theater. 

 

In July 2001, he directed the music for the opening ceremony of Former President Bill Clinton’s new office in Harlem, New York. In addition, since 2001 TOYA has been producing an American Diva's vocal group called "Wild Women" featuring Maxine Brown. In the Spring of 2006 and 2008, he took the group on tour in Japan to perform in 14 cities. 

 

In 2009, he created a new song and dance show called “Virtuosity” along with Vivian Reed (two-time Tony Award Nominee) as the musical director/conductor, composer, arranger and pianist. “Virtuosity” opened and ran for six weeks in Toronto and two weeks in Minneapolis.

 

After working with Ben E. King for 14 years as his arranger, Toya produced Ben E. King's last album "Dear Japan - Ue Wo Muite Arukou" in 2011 for the people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan.  Ben E. King received a commendation from the Japan Tourism Agency for his ongoing support surrounding the tragedy. Toya and Ben E. King also performed six shows in Tokyo and Osaka (all sold out) in November of 2011. In August of 2012, accompanied by Toya’s great musicians and choir from New York, they again embarked on a music tour in Japan playing in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka for over 5000 people in total, with every performance receiving a standing ovation. 

 

In 2021 and 2023, TOYA composed and recorded original ballet suites for the Saint Louis Ballet and is currently working on "Gravity Of Love The Musical”, created, and composed by TOYA himself. 

 

He also composed and recorded the music for the film “The Last Passenger”, which won the “Best Music” award at the 12th Global Nonviolent Film Festival and the 5th Los Angeles Asian Film Festival Golden Diamond Awards

in 2023.