Munakata was born in Hiroshima, Japan, and her parents emigrated to Brazil when she was very young. Her work was set in the city of São Paulo. She was director of the Municipal School of Music of São Paulo, and conductor and artistic director of the State Youth Choir. She directed the Osesp Choir for two decades, and ran a radio program. Her last position was as principal conductor of Coral Paulistano Mário de Andrade.