As far back as elementary school, Yukari Hatori, now age 34, dreamed of becoming a nihon buyo (Japanese dance) performer.
She had learned the basics of nihon buyo as soon as she could stand on her feet, receiving lessons from her father, Onoe Kikunojo II, head of the Onoe school of dance. The school was originally established in the 1940s by the celebrated kabuki actor and dancer Onoe Kikugoro VI. In 1983, after taking lessons with Fujima Kanjuro VI, another eminent teacher in the field, a then 9-year-old Yukari danced the role of the butterfly for the famous actor Nakamura Kanzaburo (then called Kankuro) when he performed "Kagamijishi" for the New Year in Asakusa. Eight years later, at age 17, she was given the stage name of Onoe Yukari.
Yukari has long been active at the National Theater performing both classical and original dance numbers. She has held recitals there for the past 10 years and, since 2000, has been active also on stage and TV and in the films.