About Akiko Yanagisawa

Akiko Yanagisawa studied aesthetics and philosophy at Gakushuin University in Tokyo and completed an MA in Arts Management at City, University of London, where she focused on orchestra management, arts policy, then, cross-cultural project development.

She founded Mu:Arts in London in 2004. Since then, she has collaborated with both leading and emerging artists from Japan, the UK, and Europe, producing and managing internationally acclaimed projects at major festivals and venues around the world.

In 2016, she launched Noh Reimagined, a long-term project that explores new artistic possibilities through the lens of Noh theatre. The project provides a creative platform for cross-genre and cross-cultural collaborations, connecting tradition with contemporary arts and audiences. 

Akiko is passionate about making arts and culture accessible to all. To support this mission, she established the Azuki Foundation, a registered charity that promotes creativity and well-being in local communities through unique workshops and events inspired by Japanese cultural traditions.

In 2022, she received the Global Promotion Award from the Asian Art Fund in Edinburgh endorsed by the City of Edinburgh Council and Asian Arts Award,in recognition of her outstanding cross-cultural productions in the UK.

She served on the nomination committee for Classical: NEXT from 2015 to 2018.