Having your debut CD enter the album chart in the top 10 is amazing enough for any artist, but for a classical pianist it’s almost unheard of.

That impressive feat has been achieved by Nobuyuki Tsujii, whose first album as featured performer, “Debut,” entered Oricon magazine’s album chart at No. 8 this week. Sales of the Tokyo-based pianist's appropriately titled “Debut” album have skyrocketed since he shared top honors with Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 7.

“Debut” was released back in October 2007 and had sold just 10,000 copies before Tsujii’s Texas triumph. Since then copies have been flying off the shelves: Japanese label Avex, to which Tsujii is signed, says “Debut” has now sold a total of 100,000 copies.

“It's an unbelievable hit for a classical CD,” says an Avex spokesperson. Well-known pieces by Chopin, Liszt and Ravel comprise disc one of the two-CD set, while the second disc contains original compositions by Tsujii.

Tsujii, who has been blind since birth, is the first Japanese to win first prize at the prestigious Van Cliburn competition.

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