24-year-old Saito Johnny, currently of Tokyo, Japan, is swiftly gaining international popularity for his uniquely Japanese blend of bluegrass, country, rock and pop. In 2011 he was hand-selected by Taylor Swift to open for her on the Japan and Hong Kong legs of her tour, and it’s easy to understand why: although young, his skills as a writer of songs (whether acoustic ballads or fun, uptempo numbers) are matched only by his dexterity on the banjo, mandolin, and guitar and his sweet voice. He started making music in Sendai, Japan as a teenager, and started paying his dues early, even…
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