Hirahara studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the California Institute of the Arts.[1] He has been part of the jazz scene in New York since 2003,[2] after moving there from the San Francisco Bay Area.[1] Hirahara's debut album, Edge of This Earth, was released in 2000.[3] In 2011 Posi-Tone Records released Hirahara's Noble Path, a trio album with Yoshi Waki (bass), and Dan Aran (drums).[3] His next Posi-Tone album, Libations & Meditations from 2015, was a trio recording with bassist Linda Oh (bass) and drummer John Davis.[4][2]