She previously worked as a staff attorney with Gulfcoast Legal Services in St Petersburg. Tomoko is a proud graduate of the University of the Ryukyus in Japan (’95, LLB), Florida State University (’11, B.S.), and Stetson University College of Law (’15, J.D.). In 2016, she received the Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Award (student category). In 2017, she was a lapel pin recipient from the Supreme Court of Florida in recognition for her pro bono service.