Akira Takahashi was born in Osaka, Japan, on the 19th of November 1970. At the age of 13, he began both playing and passionately crafting the violin. He continued studying violin making as a self-taught artisan until his arrival in Cremona. In 1994, he graduated with a degree in Physics from Osaka University and began working the same year as an industrial designer for a metal machinery company. In 2000, he moved to Italy to attend the International School of Violin Making in Cremona (I.P.I.A.L.L.), studying with teachers like Primo Pistoni and Alessandro Voltini. In 2003, he earned his violin making diploma and completed an apprenticeship in the workshop of Sandro Asinari. In 2005, he won the first prize and Best Work Award at the International Violin Making Competition in Luby (Czech Republic). In 2007, he won the second prize and silver medal in the violin category at the 5th “Tchaikovsky” Violin Making Competition in Moscow. In 2009, he obtained the first prize in the Professional Violin Category at the 3rd “Pisogne” National Violin Making Competition. In 2010, he won the first prize in the Professional Viola Category at the 4th “Pisogne” National Violin Making Competition. In 2011, he won the second prize and Best Work Award at the 4th International Violin Making Competition “Violino Arvenzis” in Slovakia. In 2013, he won the first prize at the 5th “Violino Arvenzis” International Competition in Slovakia. In 2019, he won first prize in the Professional Violin Category at the 10th “Sesto Fiorentino” International Violin Making Competition. In 2021, he won the Special “A.L.I.” Award at the 16th Triennale International Violin Making Competition. In 2021, he won the first prize in the Cello Category and Second Prize in the Violin Category at the 12th “Pisogne” International Violin Making Competition.
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