Ayako was born in Tokyo, Japan. She is a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Tokyo.

She studied with Josef Molnar at Kunitachi Music College. Ayako was a member of NHK Radio Orchestra.

Ayako came to the US in 1965 and studied with Peter Eagle at Indiana University, where she received a Master's Degree in harp performance. She has played with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and other orchestras and choral ensembles such as the St. Louis Basilica Cathedral Choir, Masterworks Choral of Belleville, the Bach Society of Saint Louis, St. Louis Children's Choir and made numerous recordings with many of these ensembles.

After the formation of the violin and harp ensemble, Watanabe Duo, with her husband, they made concert tours throughout Japan in 1995, 1997 and 2005. They produced two CDs, one called The Watanabe Duo with John Romeri and the other entitled The Watanabe Duo in Concert with their son, organist Hideki Watanabe. This recording, Song of Shinobué is the first collaboration with their son, Kaoru.

AAM 060108