Robert Higa Kajiwara (aka Rob Kajiwara - registered trade name since 2008) is a Ryukyuan / Okinawan musician, filmmaker, and peace activist. He is founder and president of Kaji Music Entertainment Company, with locations in Okinawa, Hawaii, and Seattle, as well as the Peace For Okinawa Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Ryukyuan / Okinawan culture, history, languages, and rights.
Education
Ph.D. A.B.D., History, Manchester Metropolitan University (2020)
Master of Asian International Affairs, Graduate Certificate in Chinese, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2020-2022)
MA, History, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2016-2019)
BA, History, Asia/Pacific focus, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2014-2015)
AA, Teaching; Certificate in Global Studies, Leeward Community College (2012-2014)
Master of Asian International Affairs, Graduate Certificate in Chinese, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2020-2022)
MA, History, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2016-2019)
BA, History, Asia/Pacific focus, University of Hawaii at Manoa (2014-2015)
AA, Teaching; Certificate in Global Studies, Leeward Community College (2012-2014)
Early Life
Kajiwara is trained in Luchuan (Ryukyuan) folk music and plays the sanshin, which he inherited from his great-grandfather, and is also trained in piano, guitar, songwriting, composition, and music production. In 2019 Kajiwara was gifted the personal sanshin of acclaimed Okinawan peace activist Fumiko Shimabukuro.
"Where Hope Resides" - Break Through Success
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Kajiwara's first break through came when his article, "Where Hope Resides," was published on Christmas Day 2025, documenting his observations about the special and unique role that Hope the dog plays in his grandparents relationship, as well as in the community.
"Around 2007 and 2008, Grandma got really sick," said Kajiwara. "She was in the hospital for a long time, and was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré Syndrome, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Athritis. The doctors said she would never walk again. She did eventually learn to walk again, though it was a very difficult process, and she's never been the same sense - emotionally or physically. After she got out of the hospital is when she got Hope from our neighbor. She tells everyone that she 'named him Hope, because he gives her Hope.' Even though Hope is a boy, and the name Hope is girls name, it still fits." |
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"Every day Grandpa would take Hope for a bike ride in his old fashioned red bicycle. Hope would ride in a basket in the front. Grandpa would wear a big, shiny black motorcycle helmet - not a bike helmet - with eagle decals on it. They would ride through town, and many people got to know them."
"Hope quickly became a vital link in the marriage between Grandma and Grandpa. As Grandpa became older, he started having some problems, and his personality changed a bit. Sometimes he was really kind, and other times he could be pretty mean, mostly towards Grandma. Grandma, naturally, did not like this, and their marriage was strained. But the one thing they both agreed on was that they both loved Hope. They treated him as their grandchild, and people would remark that Grandpa treated Hope the same way he treated me when I was a baby," said Kajiwara.
"Hope quickly became a vital link in the marriage between Grandma and Grandpa. As Grandpa became older, he started having some problems, and his personality changed a bit. Sometimes he was really kind, and other times he could be pretty mean, mostly towards Grandma. Grandma, naturally, did not like this, and their marriage was strained. But the one thing they both agreed on was that they both loved Hope. They treated him as their grandchild, and people would remark that Grandpa treated Hope the same way he treated me when I was a baby," said Kajiwara.
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The "Where Hope Resides" article was critically acclaimed and put Kajiwara on the map as an artist and creator, and also cemented Hope's role as Kajiwara's sidekick, community hero, and brand ambassador. This led to the formal founding of Kajiwara's entertainment business that would eventually become Kaji Music, LLC, mostly doing small jobs here and there, with Hope as brand ambassador. Kajiwara, playing piano, guitar, and the traditional Okinawa sanshin (inherited from his great-grandfather), performed in schools, churches, college campuses, and community centers, and his piano playing earned him the nick-name "Elton John."
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Around this time, Kajiwara wrote and performed original songs such as "One Thing," "Meant to Be," "Don't Know Where to Cross," "Angel Unaware," and "Before the Night is Through," the latter of which has been covered by multiple artists, cementing Kajiwara's role as a songwriter.
Also during this period, Kajiwara wrote the screenplay for a feature film titled "More Than Just a Brick in the Wall," a musical family film about a musician recently risen to fame, learning to balance his work and family life. The renown British actor Alan Rickman expressed interest in playing the role of a central supporting character in the film prior to his sudden passing in 2016.
"I wrote the screenplay with Alan Rickman in-mind as one of the supporting characters, so his passing came as a shock," said Kajiwara. Production on the film has been halted, though Kajiwara states his intent to continue it.
Also during this period, Kajiwara wrote the screenplay for a feature film titled "More Than Just a Brick in the Wall," a musical family film about a musician recently risen to fame, learning to balance his work and family life. The renown British actor Alan Rickman expressed interest in playing the role of a central supporting character in the film prior to his sudden passing in 2016.
"I wrote the screenplay with Alan Rickman in-mind as one of the supporting characters, so his passing came as a shock," said Kajiwara. Production on the film has been halted, though Kajiwara states his intent to continue it.
Take Me Home, Country Roads - Okinawa
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In 2017 Kajiwara's work in Okinawa as a cultural representative, with speeches in Uchinaaguchi and concert performances of the Okinawan folk song "Asadoya Yunta" (on the traditional sanshin instrument) and his piano performances of "Take Me Home Country Road" with lyrics modified for Okinawa, earned him further acclaim.
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In 2018 and 2019 Kajiwara, with the assistance of Hope, petitioned to save Okinawa's coral reef, receiving over 212,000 signatures, including public endorsements from Brian May (of the rock band Queen), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japanese musician and composer), Ryuchell (Okinawan fashion model), and Rola (Japanese television personality), as well as politicians Denny Tamaki (Governor of Okinawa Prefecture), Kantoku Teruya (Senator), Keiko Itokazu (Member of Parliament), and many others.
Kajiwara's charisma and thoughtfulness gained traction around Asia, while Hope's cute, playful personality as a mainstay alongside him further gained supporters.
Since 2019 Kajiwara has been a regular speaker at the United Nations, representing Native Ryukyuans / Okinawans.
Around this time Kajiwara wrote and performed original songs such as "You're the Best Thing In My Life (Feliz Cumpleanos)," "Peace For Okinawa," and "Flowers of Spring," as well as covers of traditional songs such as "E Na Punahele," "Tinsagu Nu Hana," and "Ashimiji Bushi." Hope occasionally contributes to recordings via the jingling of his dog tags.
Latest Developments - Film & Soundtrack Award
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In 2023 Kajiwara was given a prestigious award from a United Nations Economic and Social Council affiliated non-governmental organization to produce the film and soundtrack for a documentary about Okinawan culture, history, and society. The result was Occupied Okinawa, featuring Kajiwara, Professor Hoshin Nakamura, Simranbir Kaur, and special appearances by the Okinawan dancer Ginko Kinjo, and the renown Okinawan musician and songwriter, Shokichi Kina. The soundtrack features Kajiwara's new original song, "Blue Skies Will Last Forever," with both Okinawan and English versions, along with his renditions of Okinawan folk songs such as "Ayagu," "Ashimiji Bushi," "Tanchame," and "Kudaka Manjushu."
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Occupied Okinawa documentary film soundtrack featuring Rob Kajiwara, Shokichi Kina
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Rob Kajiwara, Kaji Music, "Gotta Have Hope" pet webcomic, featuring Hope the Dog and Kitkat the cat
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Also in 2023, a small, two-month old black and white kitten showed up in Kajiwara's garden one day.
"He just showed up in our garden one day, living in a bush, and coming out to sit on the grass and cry," said Kajiwara. He was very young, small, and scared. He would follow me, Hope, and Grandma around the garden from a distance, and I would give him some of Hope's food and water. I would call him 'cat, cat,' because I didn't know what else to call him. This happened for four days. On day five, he came up to me right away, I brought him inside the house, bathed him, and he's been with us ever since. I named him Kitkat, since he seemed to think his name was 'cat.'" Kitkat would quickly become part of the Kajiwara family, as well as a co-brand ambassador for Kaji Music. |
In 2024 and 2025, Kajiwara's film, Occupied Okinawa, was shown in the United States, Okinawa, China, the Philippines, and Switzerland. In 2025, Kajiwara was given another award to produce the film and soundtrack for a sequel, as well as for two documentary shorts, "Peace Street, Okinawa," and "A World Without War."
Kajiwara and Kaji Music hit a new monthly high with 17 million views during the month of February 2025.
"Hope has been our brand ambassador since 2010 and has garnered the love and attention of hundreds of thousands of people around the world," said Kajiwara. "Then in 2023 Kitkat also came to us. The 'Gotta Have Hope'(TM) project is just a way for Kaji Music to showcase our beloved animal companions to better promote their lovable personalities that represents Kaji Music's values of love, family, peace, and joy."
In September 2025, Kajiwara announced that, due to the sudden and unexpected death of a close family member under controversial circumstances, that he and his team had canceled all upcoming events and trips for September and October 2025, including all concerts and film screenings. Their events and trips from June through August 2025 had already been canceled due to injury.
Kajiwara and Kaji Music hit a new monthly high with 17 million views during the month of February 2025.
"Hope has been our brand ambassador since 2010 and has garnered the love and attention of hundreds of thousands of people around the world," said Kajiwara. "Then in 2023 Kitkat also came to us. The 'Gotta Have Hope'(TM) project is just a way for Kaji Music to showcase our beloved animal companions to better promote their lovable personalities that represents Kaji Music's values of love, family, peace, and joy."
In September 2025, Kajiwara announced that, due to the sudden and unexpected death of a close family member under controversial circumstances, that he and his team had canceled all upcoming events and trips for September and October 2025, including all concerts and film screenings. Their events and trips from June through August 2025 had already been canceled due to injury.
Hope's Heroes(TM) Series
Hope, a Schnauzer Terrier, is Rob’s co-star, his tail-wags echoing The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love in Kaji Music studios. In 2008, Rob’s grandmother, battling Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis, defied doctors to walk again, lifted by a puppy named Hope. “She named him Hope because he gave her hope,” Rob shares. Riding in Grandpa’s red bicycle basket, Hope became a community icon, uniting a strained marriage. Rob’s 2025 article “Where Hope Resides,” published Christmas Day, went viral, launching “Gotta Have Hope™”—a webcomic, YouTube channel (20,000+ views in days), and blog (hope-animals.com).Inspired by Hope’s 2025 red carpet strut, Rob launched Hope’s Heroes™, a semi-animated series blending real photos, animation, and himself as a character, channeling The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. Unlike typical kids’ cartoons, it weaves Okinawan-inspired whimsy, quirky humor, and Rob’s sanshin-driven music to fight “evil” with love, hope, and friendship. Rob stars as a musical mentor, guiding Hope, Kitkat, Amber, and Snowball in surreal adventures—like battling a Gloom Cloud with heart-powered melodies. “It’s our Sgt. Pepper’s for families,” Rob says.