Shimabukuro decided to pursue a solo career as Colón disbanded in early 2002. With the help of his newly acquired manager, Japanese native Kazusa Flanagan, in June 2002 he became the first Hawaii artist to sign a recording contract with Epic Records International, a division of Sony Music Japan International. Shimabukuro toured extensively in Japan – a practice he still continues – and from the start his albums received extensive airplay on various Japanese radio stations. He has also released numerous Japan-only CDs: "Skyline" (2002), "Haruyo Koi" (2007), "Yeah" (2008), "Ichigo Ichie" (2008), "Annon" (2009), "The Music of Sideways" (2009), "Across the Universe" (2009), "Aloha To You" (2011), "Ukulele X: 10th Anniversary Collection" (2011), "Ukulele Disney" (2012). In 2008, a 120-page biographical photo-book on Shimabukuro was published in Japan.