ACCLAIMED PIANIST HAYATO SUMINO’S NOVEMBER 2025 RECITAL AT THE K-ARENA YOKOHAMA, JAPAN

EARNS HIM COVETED GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CERTIFICATION FOR ‘THE MOST TICKETS SOLD FOR A PIANO RECITAL (INDOORS)’

December 1, 2025 – Acclaimed pianist Hayato Sumino has received coveted Guinness World Records™ Certification for ‘the most tickets sold for a piano recital (indoors)’ for his recent recital on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the K-Arena Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Sumino’s classical solo piano recital, supported by ROHTO Pharmaceutical, was the first ever classical music concert at K-Arena Yokohama, one of Japan’s largest music arenas and also one of the largest events in Sumino’s career to date.

The total number of ticket sales reached 18,564, booking up the entire venue.  With Guinness World Records Limited present, the sales record and attendance data were both officially confirmed. 

Stage production was by Mr. Daito Manabe of Studio Daito Manabe/Rhizomatiks, who is active worldwide in the arts and whose fusion of music and visual effects on stage received great acclaim. 

No stranger to large arenas, Sumino had previously performed a solo concert in July 2024 at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, drawing an audience of approximately 13,000 and renewing the venue’s attendance record for classical pianists.  The K-Arena Yokohama concert surpassed that number.

Sumino’s unique musical background has garnered much attention.  He took up the piano in early childhood; went on to study at the prestigious Kaisei Senior High School, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, and completed his master’s degree at University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, where he was honoured with the President’s Award for his research in both music and information engineering.  In 2021, he came to global attention as a semi-finalist at the XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition, establishing his status as a pianist of sophisticated skills and deep musical sensitivity. 

He also enjoys huge popularity on his YouTube channel under the moniker ‘Cateen’, with over 1.5 million subscribers and over 200 million total streams, extending the reach of classical music and bringing in new audiences.

In March 2024, Hayato Sumino signed an exclusive, worldwide agreement with Sony Classical and in November 2024 released his debut album ‘Human Universe’ internationally.  He won an Award in the ‘Classic Album of the Year’ category at the Japan Gold Disc Awards and appeared at Classic FM Live in the Royal Albert Hall, London.  His second album ‘Chopin Orbit’ is set for release in January 2026, showcasing Sumino’s distinctive musical style, merging his refined classical sensibilities with his discerning ear as an arranger and his instinctive feel for the new.  The album will include original works by Chopin together with new compositions by Sumino and utilising a variety of keyboards throughout, including a concert grand, a vintage piano, a modern upright and celeste.

In addition, he has since made his concerto debut at Carnegie Hall in New York and in the Grand Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie. At the Opus Klassik Awards 2025, Germany’s prestigious awards for classical music, he was honored with Awards in no less than three categories, namely ‘Young Talent of the Year’, ‘Solo Live Performance of the Year’ and he also won the Audience Prize – a significant achievement for a solo artist, enhancing his international acclaim and reputation.

Sumino has recently expanded his activities into the wider media too, including appearing on the cover of AERA magazine, being featured in Elle Magazine US, in Rolling Stone Korea and Vogue Japan.  He has recently provided music for Japanese Olympic Silver Medal-winning figure skater, Yuta Kagiyama.

The Guinness World Records™ Certification is a welcome addition to his roster of Awards and Honours, recognising his innate musical talent, his creativity, intelligence and growing international profile. 

Hayato Sumino commented: 

“Even just giving a piano recital in an arena was already a huge challenge, but using a prepared piano and creating a system that synchronized the music with the visuals and lighting made it a stage and an event that truly excited me. I hope it was the same for all of you too. The Guinness World Record we achieved together with all 18,564 of you is something that I will always treasure.”

INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES:-

DEC 10 Recital: Turin, Italy

DEC 12 Recital: Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria

DEC 14 Recital: Lugano, Switzerland

DEC 31 & JAN 1 New Year’s Eve Concert: Salzburg, Austria

JAN 7 PianoRecital: Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Germany

JAN 13 Recital: Rome, Italy

JAN 16–18 Piano Recital: Forum Ruhr, Bochum, Germany

JAN 20 Piano Recital: Essen, Germany

JAN 21 Piano Recital: Wiesbaden, Germany

JAN 26 – MAR 2 Extensive Tour of Japan

March 18 Carnegie Hall, New York, USA

Photos: © Ryuya Amao