Michio Kitazume comes from a musical family, his father being the clarinettist Risei Kitazume (1919–2004) and his sister the composer Yayoi Kitazume. He first studied composition, piano and conducting at the Tokyo University of the Arts and later in Paris. His compositions include works for orchestra including concertos, pieces for wind band and brass ensemble, choral music, and instrumental items for organ, piano, percussion, and traditional Japanese instruments. He is a director of the Japan Society for Contemporary Music, and Guest Professor at Tokyo College of Music as well as Emeritus Professor of Aichi-Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music.