Judges

This is the list of judges for the 2025 Wind Ballet Competition Shiga.
Please note that the judges are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Head of Jury: Mr. Kenichi Soki

Kenichi Soki

Representative of Soki Ballet International
Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
He began studying ballet at the age of three under Mika Nemoto, Daniel Levans, Serge Stefanschi,Roy Tobias, Peter Breuer, David Howard, and others.

In 1985, at the age of 16, he became one of the youngest dancers to pass the audition for the Universal Ballet Company, officially joining after graduating from high school.
In 1990, he moved to the Hong Kong Ballet as a soloist.
From 1991, he danced as a soloist with the Salzburg State Theatre Ballet in Austria, performing across Europe in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Spain.

He returned to Japan in 1996.
From 1997, he was contracted as a soloist with The National Ballet of Japan,Tokyo. In the same year, he founded Soki Ballet International in Sendai.
In 1999, he opened a purpose-built ballet studio in Izumi Park Town, Sendai, and established his base there to begin full-scale teaching.

In 2007, he choreographed the set combinations (enchaînement) for the Junior and Senior Men’s divisions at the 18th All Japan Ballet Competition of the Japan Ballet Association.
He also served as a judge and choreographer for the enchaînement in the Women’s and Men’s divisions at the Japan Ballet Association Kyushu North Branch Ballet Competitions in 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2017.
In 2012, upon the recommendation of Mr. Kenji Usui, he served as a Japanese judge at the 25th Varna International Ballet Competition.

Since 2013, he has been a regular judge for the All Japan Ballet Union.
In 2016, he served as a judge at the Korea International Ballet Competition.
Since 2017, he has been a regular judge for the Canaan International Ballet Competition (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan).
In 2018, he taught at the Dutch National Ballet Academy and choreographed Grande Défilé for Chula Vista Ballet (San Diego, USA). His work Romance won 1st place in the Contemporary Junior Division at the YAGP 2019 Japan Semi-Final.

Since 2019, he has been coordinating scholarships and teaching at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington DC.
Since 2020, he has been serving as a judge and master class teacher at the Miami International Ballet Competition.

He currently teaches workshops and competition coaching both in Japan and internationally, offering “lessons that balance mind and body,” based on his Self-Acceptance Theory.

Honors and Positions
• Representative, Soki Ballet International
• Member, Miyagi Prefecture Western Dance Association
• Councilor, Asia Ballet Academy
• 16th Varna International Ballet Competition, Senior Division – Organizing Committee Award
• 6th Paris International Dance Competition, Classical Senior Division – Prize Recipient
• 60th Tokyo Shimbun National Dance Competition – Excellent Teacher Award
• 1st Sendai Ballet Competition for Youth – Excellent Teacher Award
• 2nd and 4th Japan Grand Prix – Teacher’s Award
• 1st Yokosuka International Ballet Competition – Excellent Teacher Award
• 16th Ballet Competition 21 – Excellent Teacher Award
• 11th, 12th, and 13th All Japan Ballet Union – Teacher’s Award

Judge: Ms. Yuko Ueki

Yuko Ueki
Born in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo in 1964.
Studied under Katsuko Okamoto.
Transferred to the Hirofumi Inoue Ballet Academy through an introduction by Katsuko Okamoto.
At the request of Hirofumi Inoue, trained under Daini Kudo for 3 months.
After attending the Rosella Hightower Ballet School in Nice, France, she studied under several teachers in Paris. Concurrently, she worked as a ballet mistress, substitute teacher, and tour coordinator for Daini Kudo. In 1988, she danced in Salzburg, Austria on a guest contract.
Afterwards, she worked as a ballet dancer at the Staatstheater Karlsruhe in Germany until 2001.
After retiring, she worked as a secretary and administrative assistant at Mercedes-Benz, and then taught at five ballet schools in Karlsruhe.
In 2019, she undertook short-term studies in Italy, France, and Switzerland to learn pantomime, theater, and clowning.
From October 2019, she started her own self-liberation class, "Maishinho," in Rome.
Since 2021, she has established an online course, offering Maishinho to a Japanese audience.
To date, she continues to teach students not only from Japan but also from the United States, France, and Australia.

Judge: Ms. Sachiko Sakurai

Sachiko Sakurai
Studied under Asami Maki at the Tachibana Ballet School.
From 1984, moved to South Korea and studied ballet for six years at the Sunhwa Arts School.
Graduated from the Department of Dance at Ewha Womans University in South Korea.
Completed the Vaganova Method teacher training course.
Former Academy Director, Universal Ballet
Former Ballet Teacher at Sunhwa Arts School for 8 years.
Former Ballet Teacher at kaywon Arts middle school of Arts for 4 years.
Former Director of Ha-nul Ballet Studio.
Has produced numerous award winners at the Prix de Lausanne and the Youth America Grand Prix.
Excellent Teacher Award, The Dance Association of Korea.
Teacher's Award, Ballet Competition hosted by the Korea Ballet Academy Association.
Distinguished Service Award, Sejong University National Dance Competition and Sunhwa Arts School National Dance Competition.
Current Ballet Master, Korea Youth Ballet Stars.

Judge: Ms. Chikako Akiyama

Chikako Akiyama
Born in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Started ballet at the age of 4.
2005: 1st place in the High School Division at the Machida All Japan Ballet Competition.
2006: Finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix.
Same year, participated in the ABT Summer Intensive in New York.
2008: 5th place in the High School Division at the NBA National Ballet Competition.
Received a scholarship award. Studied for one year as a trainee at the Vienna State Opera Ballet, under the tutelage of Evelyn Teri.
2009: Joined the Vienna State Opera Ballet.
Finalist at the Premio Roma Danza International Dance Competition in Italy.
2010: Joined the Slovak National Theatre Ballet.
After returning to Japan, she has been active as a stage actress, model, and musical actress.
2013: Holidays performance, dance-drama "Shaberu Onna" (The Talking Woman).
2014: Nazra V. E. project performance "Kodoku na Suhada, Suberikomu Ongaku" (Lonely Skin, Slipping Music).
Arks Theatre Company performance, musical "Zubon Sencho" (Captain Trousers).
2018: Participated in the art gallery "SICF19" at Spiral Cafe in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, as a model and dancer for the work of headpiece artist Limo.
2019: Established brisa flor studio in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Teaches classical ballet to children and adults with the concept of "being gentle to mind and body."

Judge: Ms. Nanako Hayafuji

Nanako Hayafuji
Born in Kyoto City, started ballet at the age of 4.
Studied under Shizuko Soda, Chikahisa Natsuyama, and Takahiro Harada at the Soda Ballet School.
2006: Short-term study at the Hamburg Ballet School.
2007: Enrolled in the Vienna State Opera Ballet School.
2009: Selected as a trainee for the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists.
2010: After graduating, became a trainee at the Vienna State Opera Ballet, studying under Evelyn Teri and others.
Performed the pas de deux from "Grand Pas Classique" at a Ballet Gala in Italy.
Performed in London and Kenya with the touring Vienna Festival Ballet, dancing the lead roles in the full-length ballets "Swan Lake" and "The Sleeping Beauty."
2011: Joined the Czech National Theatre Ballet.
2014: Began teaching based in the Kansai region.
2022: Following her marriage, she relocated to Hyogo Prefecture and now teaches a wide range of students, from children to adults, in Himeji and Osaka.

2006: 7th place, Kobe Dance Competition
2006: Top 12, YAGP New York Finals
2007: 3rd place, YAGP Japan Preliminary
2007: Top 12, YAGP New York Finals
2008: Finalist, Premio Roma Danza
2009: Semi-finalist, Prix de Lausanne
2010: Semi-finalist, Jackson International Ballet Competition