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Eri moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2000 and began her piano studio in Concord in 2005. She quickly gained popularity and has maintained a busy, thriving studio in the Concord/Walnut Creek area ever since. Alongside teaching, she has been an active performer. In 2009, she was invited to audition to become a performing member of the Berkeley Piano Club, and has since performed regularly in both formal concerts at the club and informal events organized by Bay Area piano enthusiasts. Eri’s piano journey is unique, and through her interactions with many wonderful pianists and teachers in the beautiful Bay Area—which she now calls home—she has grown into the pianist and educator she is today.

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Eri began studying piano at age three in Japan, where she developed perfect pitch and excelled in performance throughout her childhood. However, she paused her piano studies upon entering middle school and did not resume until after emigrating to the U.S. and starting a family. In 2000, at age 30, she returned to piano at Diablo Valley College after nearly two decades away from the instrument. She quickly progressed as a pianist, working with many talented musicians and ensemble partners in the Bay Area. She has also been fortunate to study with many wonderful teachers and coaches, with her primary mentor for the past two decades being Dr. Dale Tsang. In 2007, she studied with John McCarthy at the San Francisco Conservatory in preparation for a performance of the Saint-Saëns G minor concerto with the DVC Philharmonic. In 2008, she performed Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

 

Eri’s nontraditional path as a pianist gives her a deep empathy for students, a keen insight into individual challenges, and a creative approach to helping them grow. With 20 years of teaching experience, she strongly believes in a personalized approach and finds joy in nurturing the musical, creative, and curious spirit of each student. She sees herself as both a knowledgeable guide and a compassionate cheerleader on each student’s musical journey. Eri loves her own piano journey so deeply that she is passionate about sharing its joy and magic with others. She believes music is an endlessly rewarding pursuit that fosters lifelong joy and growth.

Eri is also a proud mother to two grown sons, now aged 25 and 22. With her children now adults, she pursued graduate studies in piano performance at San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Neve. In 2024, she was awarded the Carol Ferrando Award (the highest award in piano performance excellency) in the SFSU Piano Awards Competition. and graduated in May 2025 with a Master of Music (M.M.) degree in piano performance.​