We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yuuki Hashimori. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yuuki below.

Hi Yuuki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative or artistic path professionally was when I decided to move to Germany to study abroad at the age of 11. The world-famous professor Zakhar Bron invited me to study with him in Germany. Even though it meant interrupting my elementary school program in Japan, that was the moment I decided to leave my “regular life” behind and dedicate myself to becoming a violinist and embarking on a musician’s life.
I had always spent most of my time practicing the violin, and my life had always been intertwined with it even before that moment. However, it was at that point that I realized there was no turning back to my previous life. I had to continue moving forward on this musical path.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Yuuki Hashimori received a violin as a birthday present when she turned three and began taking violin lessons. At the age of 11, she enrolled as the youngest scholarship student at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, drawing attention from an early age. She won first place as the youngest contestant in numerous competitions, such as the Japan Classical Music Competition, the Japan Music Competition for young people, the 13th Oikawa Production Audition where she won first prize and Best New Artist, the CCPA Concerto Competition, and many more.
She made her solo CD debut on Octavia Records with her album “Grand Waltz” and performed as a soloist with orchestras like the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo New Philharmonic Orchestra, and the NHK Danyuu Symphony Orchestra, among others. Additionally, she has toured with world-renowned stars such as Sarah Brightman and IL DIVO, and engaged in cross-genre activities including recording with YOSHIKI (X JAPAN).
Hashimori has appeared in many newspapers and performed extensively on TV. Furthermore, she was invited by the National University of Los Andes in Colombia, South America, and gave a recital in Bogota. In the United States, she appeared at the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony and performed with Carlos Santana and Ricky Martin. She has appeared in numerous concerts in Germany, France, Switzerland, Russia, various parts of America, and Japan.
Additionally, she has been actively engaged in charity performances and has worked to raise money for a school in Benin, South Africa, holding a “Charity Concert For Benin’s Children” five times in Japan and once in Germany. She has also raised money for orphans in Japan. In 2020 and 2021, she performed for two consecutive years at the Saitama City Memorial Service for War Dead. When a major earthquake struck Japan last year, she performed at a Noto Earthquake Benefit Concert in the United States and donated all the proceeds.
Since 2019, Hashimori has been appointed as the concertmistress for the Aile Philharmonic Orchestra. She proposes new ways to enjoy classical music by collaborating with world-renowned designer Junko Koshino on costume collaboration and premiering artificial intelligence AI composition works, and holds innovative concerts every year. Their performance there was nominated for the Hakura Award, which is given to works or projects using cutting-edge expressive techniques, and won the 8th Encouragement Award in 2024.
Currently, Hashimori is based in the United States and Japan, and is active in many areas such as solo performances, concertmistress roles, numerous filming and recording opportunities, and serving as a competition judge. She also has studios in both Japan and the United States where she mentors the next generation of musicians. She also teaches at the Super Soloists Academy by Nippon Violin Co., Ltd. in Japan and provides guidance to young talents. In 2024, she was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award at the Special Venue Music Award International Competition.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the unique journey the violin has taken me on. It has opened doors to places I could never have gone and introduced me to incredible people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
However, the most profound reward has been the perspective I’ve gained. I no longer envy others, regardless of their fame or success. As an artist, I intimately understand the hardships, dedication, and persistent effort behind the spotlight. Every person who shines has spent hours in the shadows, facing challenges and refining their craft. Knowing this, I no longer feel envy or blind admiration. This understanding has made my life more peaceful and fulfilling.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

For me, there is no ultimate goal in the field of music. If I ever felt completely satisfied with my performance, I believe it would mark the end of my journey as a musician. Artists are driven by a constant desire to improve, which is why we continue to strive. While I don’t have a specific goal in terms of performance, I do have a mission: to help bring classical music into the mainstream and to teach and nurture young talents for the next generation.
Classical music still occupies a minor niche in the broader music scene. Many people find classical concerts intimidating, and they aren’t typically seen as major events that young people attend like going to a movie theater. Taking children to classical concerts can also be challenging due to the need for silence and decorum. However, it’s precisely children who need to experience genuine music. I want to help create a world where children and young people naturally choose to attend classical concerts, with programs and selections that are the same as those for adults.
To achieve this, I organize classical concerts every year with the Aile Philharmonic Orchestra, where I serve as concertmaster, allowing even preschool children to attend. We aim to make classical music accessible to young people experiencing it for the first time. My goal is not to lower the bar for classical music but to widen its appeal. I believe that there should be no genre boundaries in the music scene. It would be wonderful if everyone considered classical music just one of many music genres and appreciated it equally. I want to elevate classical music and eventually host music festivals where all genres—classical, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and more—come together, and where both adults and children can enjoy music without any boundaries.
Moreover, I enjoy teaching young talents. Even if a child does not aspire to become a professional musician, I believe in the profound impact that enjoying music can have on their development and emotional growth. Teaching is reciprocal, and nurturing young talents aligns with my mission of making classical music a major part of the music scene.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yuukihashimori.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuuki_hashimori/
• Twitter: https://x.com/yuuki_hashimori/

Image Credits

＠Junichiro Matsuo
Please credit all photos to this person, except for the childhood photo.