Throughout her career, she starred as Sailor Moon in the Sailor Moon musicals, as well as portraying Hinaka Tachibana in Kamen Rider Hibiki and Kyouko Kakehi in Battle Royale II.
In addition to acting, Kanbe also pursued a singing career, where her songs were used as the theme songs to the anime series Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch.
[1] As late as June 2008, she had been active and vocally expressing an interest in furthering her career.
[3][2] She was cast in the role of Eponine in the Japanese production of Les Misérables and in Miss Saigon, but was forced to give them up due to poor health in February 2007.
[3][2] Since February 2007, Kanbe had been in and out of the hospital until passing away at 4:08 am on 18 June 2008 due to sudden heart failure.