Wataru Mukai was born in Sapporo. He is currently the Principal Cellist of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra on special contract. While serving as the principal of the orchestra, he performs broadly as a studio musician, including the live concerts and recordings of classical, pop, rock, and jazz. As a soloist, he has performed with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Georgian Sinfonietta, Tbilisi Conservatorium Orchestra, and the Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. He has been invited to be a guest principal player by orchestras around the world, and has performed in the Georges Enesco Festival and the Tbilisi Baroque Festival. He presides over Wataru Mukai Strings (Wataru Mukai and His Companion Orchestra). He is a member of the Future Orchestra Classics, Crustacea, CANTHANA, and the Matsuki, Wataru and Hanako Trio.