Makiko Nishikaze began taking piano lessons at age four. Her piano teacher focused her training on auditory education. From 1986, she studied composition with Bin Kaneda at the Aichi University of Fine Arts and Music in Nagoya. After receiving a degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1991, she continued her studies in composition with Alvin Curran at Mills College in Oakland in 1993. During this time she also began to work as a performance artist. In 1994, Nishikaze began studying with Walter Zimmermann at the HdK in Berlin (Diploma 1996, Master Student 1999). In 2007, she was a lecturer at the Wakayama University, Japan.

She currently lives and works as a composer, pianist and performance artist in Berlin; she also gives regular concerts, lectures and courses on experimental music (e.g. for preschoolers) in Germany and Japan.