Kanae Kushima graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and further studied at the New National Theatre Opera Studio. She also studied in Milan on a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. She is the first prize winner of the 54th Student Music Concours of Japan, and of the HIMES Competition. In 2005, Kushima made her debut in Europe as she was invited to perform “Die Zauberflöte” at the new national theatre in Athens and appeared in 15 performances. Kushima has participated in various productions and performed roles including the shepherd boy in “Tosca,” Frasquita in “Carmen,” Giannetta in “L’Elisir d’Amore,” Zerlina in “Don Giovanni,” Susanna and Barbarina in “Le nozze di Figaro,” the Forest Bird in “Siegfried,” and Papagena in “Die Zauberflöte.” She has gained high praise for her performances with overseas casts. In recent years, Kushima received acclaim for her performances as Norina in “Don Pasquale,” Yniold in “Pelléas et Mélisande,” Kseniya in “Boris Godunov,” and Despina in “Così fan tutte.”
　
In 2007, she was selected as Papagena in the Nikikai production of “Die Zauberflöte,” and she performed the same role in 2015 under the direction of Amon Miyamoto. In the same year, she charmed audiences with her performance at the HTB Asahi Silvester Concert. She is also expanding her range of activities, including appearing in the role of Juliette in “Die tote Stadt” at Biwako Hall.

Kushima is a member of Nikikai. Since her first appearance at PMF in 2013, she has served as MC in the PMF Link Up Concert every year. At PMF 2014, she performed multiple roles including Najade in the Stage Opera “Ariadne auf Naxos.” This is her tenth appearance at PMF.