From 1970 until 1972, he was appointed Apprentice Conductor to the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa. In 1972, he made a concert tour in Switzerland as conductor of Tokyo Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Mr Yazaki has since furthered his conducting studies in Europe with Hans Swarowsky, Franco Ferrara, Sergiu Celibidache , Zdenek Kosler, Pierre Dervaux.
He has received numerous awards such as laureate at the John Player International Conductors Award (1974), at the Concours International de Besancon (1975) and at the Rassegna Internazionale "Gino Marinuzzi" (1976).
Since then, titles that he has held include Conductor at the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra between 1979-1988, Principal Guest Conductor at Norwegian Radio Orchestra between 1986-1988 and Principal Guest Conductor at Hofer Symphoniker, Germany between 1986-1989 and also Music Director and Principal Conductor at Hofer Symphonikerxbetween 1989-1996.
Since 1994, Mr Yazaki is Principal Guest Conductor at the Orchestre de Chambre National de Toulouse, Since 2000 the Honorary Conductor at the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 the Principal Guest Conductor at the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr Yazaki is seen often with numerous orchestras in Europe with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Orchestras, Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre Colonne, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux, Orchestre de Lyon, Orchestre d'Avignon, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Opera de Paris, Opera Royal de Wallonie, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande amongst others.
For his continuous effort at contributing of French music and culture, Mr Yazaki was awarded the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' from the French Government in 2001.