Biography:

 
Tommy Tomita is the most well-known Japanese man in Harlem, and the most famous Harlemite in JAPAN,because he has so many titles as “the first Japanese”, a Pioneer, in his 35 years of Harlem life.
 
Tommy was born and raised in Asakusa, TOKYO, known mostly as an all-around athlete including Sumo,Baseball, and Skiing. Tommy also was on Japan’s Luge Team in the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
 
After he graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Commerce, he ran three major jazz clubs in Roppongi, Tokyo. In spite of his huge success, he sold them, divorced his wife and traveled to 52 American cities, listening to Jazz, ultimately settling in Harlem, New York.
 
As soon as he started to operate the first Japanese-speaking “Harlem Tour” in 1987, introducing Harlem Jazz, Gospel, the Apollo Amateur Night, his tour became very popular. Despite being shot three times, and countless robberies, he never thought of moving from Harlem because he LOVED Harlem.
 
“Giving something back to communities” is what he did. Tommy extended many invitations to the Harlem Senior Citizens to enjoy Jazz music at “The Showman’s Jazz Club” and “Sylvia’s Restaurant”. He also visited the prisons with his favorite musicians.
 
As a music producer, he took so many singers and musicians from New York to travel all over JAPAN. His booking career started in 1989, with Yokohama Officer’s Club, which was the same building as the Apollo Theater in Honmoku, Japan. Also as a Booking Producer of “Harlem Nights Concert in Japan” since 1994, Tommy produced Japanese singer’s recording with “Bobby’s Happy House” in Harlem, and many more.