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Atsuko Kawakami - Piano Recital

Atsuko Kawakami was born in Hokkaido in a town called Otofuke, and she studied music under Michiko Endo (Sapporo) and Chiharu Taguchi (Tokyo). She studied economics at Yokohama National University, then Kawakami went to England to study the piano under Benjamin Kaplan. She devoted five and a half years to her studies, and returned to Japan soon after.
In 2001, she made her debut in Japan when she played Transcendental Études 1837 Ver. composed by Liszt that was thought to be impossible to play. Critics raved in the Present Music Magazine, "a pianist of extraordinary talent. A glamorous performance filled with liveliness"
In 2003, she played the Japanese Suite composed by Akira Ifukube, who was in attendance, was astounded with the performance.
In May of 2004, she was given the composition, "Japanese Rhapsody" also composed by Ifukube, and was able to perform it in a solo concert he was present in.
In September of 2012, she released the album, "Akira Ifukube Works for Piano", which was selected as the editors choice in Recording Arts Magazine.
Other major performances worth mentioning is the artists' non pedal rendition of Mozart's works for piano sonata ("the clarity of each key tone played was amazing, and she has brilliant finger technique. She was able to logically convey the beauty of Mozarts' piano pieces." --Chopin magazine), and also played "Ritmica Ostinata" composed by Akira Ifukube, together with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.