Her mother chose kabuki and their daughter began lessons at 9, immersing herself in the classical form of Japanese theater.
That same year she traveled to Japan to study under kabuki star Kikugoro Onoe VI [ja].
[1] Under armed guard, Kasuma received special permission to travel to Los Angeles to retrieve more costumes and music.
She worked with Walt Disney, who liked to infuse an "international flavor" in his shows, on such projects as "Family Night".
[1] Through more than 70 years of dancing, Kansuma taught nearly 2,000 students, among them her daughter, Miyako Tachibana, who achieved kabuki master status.