Tomoko is Japanese and was born into a nominal Buddhist family. When she went to the US as a high school exchange student, she came to know Jesus.
In 2002, she went to Bangkok and spent more than a year as a volunteer at a local church. She then went to England where she studied Biblical and Intercultural studies in order to prepare for long term mission work. Before she came back to Thailand in 2009, she worked in her home church in Japan teaching the Bible, both for adults and youth, as well as teaching English for children. Tomoko also has a BA degree in International Studies and has worked for World Vision (a Christian aid organization). She moved to Lampang in August 2010.