Yasuaki was born in Japan and he received a Bachelor of Psychology degree at Japanese University in 2009 before accepting a place to study percussion at The Royal Northern College of Music. Whilst at the RNCM he received a scholarship before graduating in 2014.
Yasuaki was a finalist in the Italy Percussion Competition (Vibraphone). He is currently an instrument endorsee for Majestic Percussion.
In 2011 Yasuaki was the first Japanese player to join the Fairey Brass Band and five months later he was listed in the ‘Top five percussionists of 2011’ by the brass band website 4barsrest. He has been featured in a number of music magazines including an extensive interview in the internationally acclaimed brass band magazine The British Bandsman.
Yasuaki is interested in expanding the repertoire for solo percussion with brass band accompaniment and he gave the premiere performance of Rodney Newton’s percussion concerto ‘The Golden Apples of the Sun’ at the 2013 RNCM Festival of Brass which earned him a standing ovation from a capacity audience. He joined the Leyland Band and continued to be featured as a solo player including a performance at the 2013 Brass in Concert Contest.
Yasuaki released his debut solo album recorded with Leyland band on July 2014. It has been sold in several countries and has been highly praised.
Then Yasuaki joined to Black Dyke Band as the first Japanese player in the whole history of the band. He also was featured as a soloist in the concerts with the band.
Yasuaki trained for three years as a Buddhist priest after returning to Japan. Currently he is active as a percussionist and priest and appeared on some televisions and magazines in Japan.
Yasuaki also take a keen interest in composition and arrangement for brass band. He is an arranger of Vivace from Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No.2 which has been published by BrookWright Music.