Yumi was born in Tokyo and studied with Toshiya Eto at the Toho Music school

She also studied with Emmanuel Hurwitz, Eric Gruenberg and David Takeno.

Yumi was a leader of the Tokyo Soloists and also played as a soloist and chamber musician in festivals in the USA, Belgium, Switzerland and France.

Already an assistant professor at the Toho Music School shortly after graduation, upon settling in the UK her love for teaching developed further and Yumi has taught at the Junior Academy for more than 20 years. She was awarded an honorary ARAM in 2003.

Her pupils have won the string prize many times.

Yumi's special interest is to establish a solid foundation of technique and musicianship in the early stages and to help pupils to find themselves by expressing and communicating through music making.

She is also violin professor at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.