A 16-year-old Japanese violinist took first place in a prestigious international violin competition held in Paris, while another Japanese teen finished third, the competition's jury announced Saturday.
Akiko Yamada, and Kyoko Yonemoto, 18, both from Tokyo, were awarded the Premier Grand Prix and third place, respectively. They competed in the violin division of the International Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition, a major event for young pianists and violinists.
Yamada is the first Japanese violinist to win the Premier Grand Prix in the competition since Daishin Kashimoto in 1996, according to the secretariat of the competition. She became the youngest-ever winner in the competition's violin division.