Hank Sasaki
Masataka "Hank" Sasaki, 70, was born and grew up in Fukuoka, Japan, located on the northern shore of Kyushu Island. He is married to Jean and has three children, Masa, Miharu, and Jiro, and one step-daughter, Adia, as well as four grandchildren: Erina and Kojiro, who live in Japan, and Alessandria and Houston, who live in Hendersonville, Tenn.

Hank continues to work in his musical profession, singing in the U.S., Japan, Australia, and sometimes Europe. Besides his music, Hank enjoys reading and cooking. His specialties are fried rice and Japanese-style potato salad.
"I first heard country music on the Far East Network in Japan," Hank says. "There was a country music show from 11 a.m. to noon. I used to climb out the school window and run home and listen! That is where I first heard Hank Williams sing, and something touched my heart, even though I couldn't understand the words. My mother bought me a guitar when I was 16, and I taught myself to play and sing the songs I heard on the radio. Music has been my life."

And how did he get his American name? "American GIs nicknamed me Hank when I was singing with a band, The Blue Rangers, at American military bases in Japan as a young man." Hank adds, "It has been an amazing journey so far."