Mari Kawakami urodziła się w 1994 r. w Japonii, a naukę na fortepianie zaczęła w wieku 5 lat. Po ukończeniu studiów licencjackich w University of Music and Performing Arts w Mannheim, rozpoczęła studia magisterskie w Universität der Künste w Berlinie w klasie Björna Lehmanna. Kształciła się pod kierunkiem pedaogów takich jak: Robert Benz, Nobuyoshi, Kato, Masataka Takada, Sayaka Takada, Chisako Kato, Masako Tsujii, Koji Shimoda i Takako Takahashi. Jest laureatką wielu nagród, m.in: II Nagroda na II ASEAN International Concerto Competition (2007), Nagrodę Uznania na 12. International Competition dla Młodych Pianistów w Ettlingen (2012), I Nagroda w Rovere d’Oro International Competition (2013), III Nagroda w Livorno Piano Competition (2018), III Nagroda w Artur Schnabel Competition (2019). W 2021 r. była półfinalistką wiosennego konkursu Prague Spring Competition. Brała udział w kursach mistrzowskich prowadzonych przez takich muzyków, jak: Sergio Perticarolli, Alexander Jenner, Björn Lehmann, Andrea Bonatta, Jacques Rouvier, Dmitri Bashkirov, Helmut Lachenmann.

Mari Kawakami was born in 1994 in Japan, and began playing the piano when she was 5 years old. Following her graduation of bachelor from the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts, she studies Master at the Universität der Künste Berlin with Björn Lehmann. Her teachers include Robert Benz, Nobuyoshi, Kato, Masataka Takada, Sayaka Takada, Chisako Kato, Masako Tsujii, Koji Shimoda and Takako Takahashi. She is a winner of many awards, such as: 2nd prize in 2nd ASEAN International Concerto Competition (2007), Encouragement Award in 12th Ettlingen International Competition for young pianists (2012), 1st prize in Rovere d’Oro International Competition (2013), 3rd prize in Livorno Piano Competition (2018), 3rd prize in Artur Schnabel Competition (2019). In 2021, she was a Semi-finalist in Prague Spring Competition. She had masterclasses with Sergio Perticarolli, Alexander Jenner, Björn Lehmann, Andrea Bonatta, Jacques Rouvier, Dmitri Bashkirov, Helmut Lachenmann.