Born in Tokyo, She began studying piano at the age of five and composition at the age of fourteen. In 1978, she received her B.A. in Music Composition from the University Division at the Toho Gakuen School of Music and graduate degree from the same university in 1980, and was a member of the school’s faculty from 1980 to 1991. Following her earlier activity as a composer in Tokyo, she came to NYC in 1991 when she received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council.