Junta Arakawa was born in Japan and began his musical training through early childhood music education and piano at the Yamaha Music School. At the age of 16, during a significant turning point in his life, he stepped away from the piano, although music remained an important part of his life. He played tuba in the brass band at Nihon University Mishima High School and later trombone in the jazz and fusion club at Nihon University, where he initially majored in International Relations. During this period, John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things had a profound impact on him and rekindled his interest in the piano.
After participating in a summer exchange program at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, USA, Junta decided to transfer there. He initially studied Business Administration while continuing to play trombone in the concert band and piano in the jazz band. After seven years away from formal piano study, meeting pianist and teacher Elaine Moss marked a decisive turning point in his musical development. Inspired by her musicianship, exceptional sight-reading ability, and approach to teaching, Junta returned seriously to the piano and changed his major to Piano Performance. Elaine became an important role model whose influence continues to shape his own approach to teaching. Under her guidance, Junta participated in two concerto competitions in 2002, receiving second prize in both the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition.
Junta received his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, with a minor in Business, from St. Norbert College in 2003. He continued his studies at Wichita State University as a full-scholarship Graduate Teaching Assistant, studying piano with Paul Reed and receiving his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance in 2006.
In 2006, Junta moved to Thailand and joined the School of Music at Assumption University as a full-time lecturer. There, he taught piano and a wide range of academic music subjects, organized and performed in solo and ensemble concerts, and later served as Chairperson of the Department of Music Business. During these years, collaborations with musicians in Thailand, Japan, and beyond became an important part of his artistic development. Dr. Paulo Zereu became one of his major pianistic influences, while artists including Kyoko Abe, Noriko Tsuboi, and Yayoi Morita contributed artistic perspectives and philosophies that continue to influence his approach to music and teaching.
Since 2016, Junta has served as a full-time piano lecturer in the Pre-College Program (Young Artist Music Program – YAMP) at the College of Music, Mahidol University. He joined the College’s International Relations Unit in 2022, becoming increasingly involved in international partnerships and student and faculty mobility. Since 2024, he has also participated in coordinators’ meetings of the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC), contributing to the College’s engagement with the international higher music education community.
Alongside his teaching and administrative work, Junta remains active as a pianist. In 2024, he formed the YJ Piano Duo with Yoshimi Matsushima, a fellow full-time faculty member at the College of Music, Mahidol University. The duo presented concert series in both 2024 and 2025.
Junta currently serves as Assistant Dean for Mobility and Exchange within the College’s Global Partnerships Unit, while continuing his work as a full-time piano lecturer in the Pre-College Program. Drawing on almost three decades of studying, teaching, performing, and working across Japan, the United States, and Thailand—as well as his own experience as an international student—he is particularly interested in creating meaningful international opportunities for students and faculty, activating partnerships through academic and artistic collaboration, and developing sustainable relationships between institutions.
Outside his academic, artistic, and administrative work, Junta enjoys Japanese historical novels and manga, sports, Japanese television dramas, and anime. He is an enthusiastic follower of Shohei Ohtani and a longtime fan of the Gundam series.
