Nobuko Imai, born March 18, 1943 in Tokyo, is a Japanese violist and professor. She began her musical training at age six and studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music before moving to the United States for further education at the Juilliard School and Yale University. Imai won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1967, marking a significant breakthrough in her career. She has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and collaborated with artists such as Martha Argerich and Yo-Yo Ma. Notable albums include Harold En Italie (1975) and The Four Sonatas for Solo Viola (1992). Imai has been recognized with awards, including the Avon Arts Award in 1993, Japan's Suntory Music Award in 1995, and the Mainichi Award of Arts in 1996. She is also a former member of the Vermeer Quartet and founder of the Michaelangelo Quartet. On top of her musical career, she has also taught at the conservatories in Geneva and Amsterdam.
