Born in Tokyo in 1977, Takeshi Kakehashi lost his eyesight due to cancer only one month after birth. He took up piano lessons when he was four and a half years old. In 1990 he was admitted to the preliminary course of the "University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna", and started his study under prof. Elisabeth Wesshaar-Dovorak. In 1998 he came into the international limelight, winning second grand prize at the "Concours International Marguerite Long-JaquesThibaud Ville de Paris". He has played with celebrated orchestras such as Plague Symphony Orchestra, National St.Petesburg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra National de France, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg, Dresdner Kapellsolisten and NHK Symphony Orchestra, in Germany, France, Russia, Czech Rep, and Japan. He has also given many recitals both in Japan, Europe and South America. He has received the "1997 Muramatsu Award," the "Year 1999 Tokyo Citizens' Award for Cultural Achievement," the "Idemitsu Music Award," and the "Braille Mainichi Culture Award."