Akari Otaka, age 16, is a student at Ibaraki Prefectural Toride Shoyo High School Music Course in Ibaraki, Japan and currently studies with Noriko Uenaka.  

     Akari began piano lessons at the Yamaha Music School at age two and enrolled in the junior performance course at age 5, where she also learned composition.  In 2013, her composition was selected and featured at Yamaha’s junior original concert.     

     Her list of accolades include, national finalist in the 2021 PTNA Piano Competition (F Class), 3rd Prize in the 2020 Japan Classical Music Concours, Jury Prize at the 2018 All Japan Junior Classic Music Competition, among others.

     Aside from playing the piano, Akari enjoys classical ballet.