Originally from Kent, Ohio, Hakutani holds degrees in piano performance from Northwestern University, Indiana University at Bloomington and the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as a Teaching Assistant in the Piano Department. In addition to teaching studio piano and group piano at UALR, Dr. Hakutani is the Director of the Artspree Concert Series and the Director of the UALR Piano Festival. He is active nationally and internationally as an educator, having conducted masterclasses throughout the United States, Mexico and Asia.