Jazz has been an inspiration for Yuki ever since he first learned how to play the piano at the age of four. Although he was classically trained, Yuki developed his love for jazz as he grew up listening to his childhood favorite Oscar Peterson. In 1983, upon graduating from Tamagawa university in Japan, he came to the United States to study jazz in its homeland. At the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Yuki never wasted a minute and absorbed everything he saw, heard, and experienced. He composed and performed with jazz great Herb Pomeroy as a student, and was awarded two of Berklee's prestigious scholarships: the Hank Jones Award and the Duke Ellington Award. Recognized for his rare talent as a composer and a pianist and for his passion toward jazz education, upon graduation from the college in1988, Yuki spent 8 years teaching in the piano department at Berklee as an Assistant Professor.

Yuki's jazz is uniquely different from that of others. His early style was very much influenced by famous jazz greats such as Keith Jarrett, Lenny Tristano, Marcus Roberts, and Bill Evans. However, as he furthered his music, Yuki has created his own heartfelt, yet very punchy and bluesy jazz. In his rich scattered harmony, Yuki infuses his creative melodies textured over his piano performance.

Yuki performed with Boston's finest musicians at local clubs such as Scullers, Ryle's, and Willow Jazz Club. Yuki has worked with Tiger Okoshi, Tommy Cambell, Bobby Durham, Kitter Betts. He was a composer and pianist of Daniel Smith Quartet, Big and Phat Jazz Orchestra, and an accompanist of many Jazz vocalists including Shawnn Monteiro, Tierney Sutton, Monica Hatch, Patty Unitis, as well as leading his Yuki Arimasa Trio.

Currently, Yuki lives in Tokyo, performing with many talented artists in Japan such as Tommy Campbell, Tomonao Hara, Masahiko Osaka, Kazu Michishita, Koichi Osamu along with studio and writing work.
He teaches at Senzoku Gakuen College where they launched the 4 year Jazz program, first time ever in Japan. Yuki initiated Jazz ear training course there as well as giving piano lessons and teach theory classes.