Her mother was a biwa master Shibata Kyoudo (柴田旭堂; passed away in 2012). Uehara Mari also performs under the name Shibata Kyouen (柴田旭艶).

Made special appearances in New OSK theater performances "Revue in Kyoto - Genji, a Dream of Thousand Years" (2007) and "Revue in Kyoto II - Rondo: Kaoru and Ukifune" (2008).

She won national prize for Chikuzen biwa in high school.

She was in charge of the Chikuzen biwa performances in the 1992 Takaterasu Hi no Miko (高照らす日の皇子) Bow Hall show.

After retirement went on as a biwa player and narrator, especially famous for her recitation of The Tale of the Heike. Video

Died at 71 years old on August 29th, 2018. She had continued working until the end, with a recital of Heiki Monogatari in May of the same year.