I’m an R&D researcher in the polymer chemistry laboratory of DIC Corporation. I began piano studies at age 5, but lessons were interrupted at age 8 and I restarted at age 15 with a new teacher. I got married to Kotomi in 2003, and then we participated in amateur piano competitions in Paris, Vienna, Chicago, Hawaii, Colorado Springs and Boston. This is my third visit to Washington and WIPAC. My younger sister, Yoko, and her family live in Los Alamos, NM.