Alumni

Seiichi Yamaguchi
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) opened its 81st Street Studio in September 2023, with Yamaha playing a major role. The art and science discovery and play space was designed for kids ages 3–11 and their families, and the “Yamaha at The Met” musical station, which was the result of the collaboration between Yamaha and KOKO Architecture + Design, added a whole new dimension to the learning experience. It uses a variety of materials to introduce children to unique sounds and demonstrates how different materials influence those sounds.
Kids love the exhibit and its larger-than-life instruments, which include standing guitars, a bird chime, a castanet wall, a marimba window, sound surfboards, and an 11-note bellows pipe organ—all playable and all designed to inspire creativity and spark the imagination.


KOKO Architecture + Design
Although the project was a collaborative effort, according to Hosono and Weintraub, it was Yamaguchi’s vision, leadership, and determination that were the driving forces behind shepherding the project from its early conceptual phases to reality. Yamaguchi thought of every detail and worked to ensure that the project was executed flawlessly.
Team members from Yamaha and KOKO worked tirelessly under tight deadlines and often under constraints and limitations, such as restrictions on importing specific types of wood from Japan, to create the instruments and the setting in which they were placed. Pandemic-related shipping delays also caused unexpected obstacles.
“Seiichi Yamaguchi was instrumental in making the material orchestra happen, even when we faced many challenges. He mobilized the engineers and designers at Yamaha to create these beautiful, one-of-a-kind instruments that are part of the multisensory experience the Studio offers,” Hosono noted. “His involvement and the amazing talent at Yamaha helped us to fulfill the project’s objective—to create an environment that supports learning and growth, while connecting children to the expansive collection of art at The Met,” Weintraub added.


Over the years, his vast experience and business knowledge have helped Yamaha to become a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of traditional and digital musical instruments and audio equipment. His leadership skills and appreciation for the power of collaboration also have provided entrée to important partnerships, including the one with KOKO Architecture + Design.
“Yamaha at The Met” reflects Yamaguchi’s deep commitment to utilizing his leadership skills, creativity, and gift for collaboration to fulfill his company’s brand promise to “make waves” through the transformational power of sound and music.