Naoki started his official musical training at the age of 8. After graduating from high school in Japan, he moved to the USA to continue his musical education. He received degrees from the University of Arizona (MM, Piano Performance), Boise State University (BM, Piano Performance) and Western Wyoming Community College (AA, Music). He moved to Vancouver for his further study with internationally acclaimed pianist, Sara Davis Buechner. Before Dr. Buechner, Naoki studied solo piano with John Milbauer, Irena Ravitskaya, and James Cook, and chamber music with Paula Fan.

He has a wide variety of experience in teaching and previously taught at UBC and the University of Arizona. Some of his former students have been accepted to music programs at universities including UBC. He studied piano pedagogy and worked for the great American piano pedagogue, Lisa Zdechlik.