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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 and thriving piano 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 piano teachers in the beautiful Bay Area, which she now calls home, she has grown into the pianist and teacher she is today.

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Eri began studying piano at age 3 in Japan, where she developed perfect pitch and thrived in piano performance throughout her childhood. However, she paused her piano studies when she entered middle school and did not resume until after she emigrated to the U.S. and started a family. In 2000, at age 30, Eri returned to her piano studies at Diablo Valley College after nearly two decades away from the instrument. She quickly developed as a pianist, working with many talented pianists and ensemble partners in the Bay Area, including Hye Yeong Min (piano), Colin Brady (piano), Adele-Akiko Kearns (cello), Bruce Chrisp (trombone), Eisaku Tokuyama (violin), and Gabrielle Wunsch (violin). She has also been fortunate to encounter many wonderful teachers and coaches along the way, with her main teacher being Dr. Dale Tsang for the past two decades. In 2007, she studied with John McCarthy at the San Francisco Conservatory to prepare 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.

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Eri’s unique piano path has given her a deep empathy for her students, a keen insight into their individual challenges, and a creative approach to helping them overcome obstacles. With 20 years of teaching experience, she firmly believes in a personalized approach and finds joy in bringing out the musical, creative, and curious spirit of each student. Eri sees herself as both an experienced guide and a compassionate cheerleader on each student's piano journey. She loves her own piano journey so much that she wants to share the joy and magic of it with her students. Music is an endlessly rewarding pursuit that can bring lifelong joy and growth.

Eri is also a mother to two grown sons, aged 24 and 21. Now that her children are adults, she has embarked on graduate studies in piano performance at San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Neve. She was awarded the Ferrando Award in the 2024 SFSU Piano Awards Competition and is scheduled to graduate with a Master of Music (M.M.) degree in piano performance in May 2025.

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*The Berkeley Piano Club is a unique and magical place where authentic live piano music takes place twice a month during the season. Performing members are auditioned, and the club has about two dozen performing pianists, many of whom hold D.M.A. or M.M. degrees. These members are some of the best pianists and piano teachers in the Bay Area, and Eri is proud to be part of this beloved community.