In 1989, she moved to Melbourne as the very first Japanese student of the Australian Ballet School, on recommendation by Dame Margaret Scott, the director of the Australian Ballet School at that time. In 1990, while still a student there, Wakako danced in Graeme Murphy’s King Roger with Sydney Dance Company and was offered a contract with the company. After graduating the Australian Ballet School and acquiring her visa, she joined the Sydney Dance Company in 1991.

At Sydney Dance Company, she became one of its most expressive dancers, before she left the company in 2007.

During her seventeen years with the Company, she has performed in more than twenty of Graeme Murphy's works, taking her to more than 18 countries. She has also performed in works by Douglas Wright, Louis Falco, Gideon Obarzarnek, Stephen Baynes and Stephen Petronio.

Wakako began her choreography work in 1991, creating three new works for the Sydney Dance Company while still a member of the company.

In 2007 Wakako started to focus more on her own creativity. The time has now come for her to combine her Australian dance language, her Japanese spiritual roots and resulting bi-cultural artistic approach in order to further contribute to Australian dance in her own authentic way.

Wakako also recently began her studies of Noh (classic Japanese musical drama), which reaffirmed her Japanese heritage, and deepened her respect for the importance of spirituality.

awards
1986: 3rd prize, the 4th Japan Ballet Competition
1987: Semi finalist, the 5th World Ballet Competition in Osaka
1999: Dance Magazine Critics Survey, chosen as one of the outstanding dancers of the year
2003: Nominated for Helpmann Awards for Best Female Dancer for her performance in Ellipse
2004: Nominated for Helpmann Awards for Best Female Dancer for her performance in Shades of Gray