Toko Shinoda was born in Dairen, Kwantung Leased Territory (today Dalian, China) in 1913, and later moved with her family to Tokyo. After her first calligraphy exhibition in Tokyo in 1936, Shinoda gradually shifted her focus towards avant-garde abstract calligraphy. By 1945, Shinoda's work had evolved into abstraction. In 1956, she embarked on an artistic journey to New York, a city thriving with abstract expressionist paintings. Shinoda ventured beyond the confines of traditional calligraphy, exploring novel forms of ink expression. During her time in the US, she held several solo exhibitions, garnering international acclaim. Upon returning to Japan in 1958, she continued to present her works around the world. Her work is held in the collections of numerous institutions, including the Guggenheim Museum (New York), the Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo), the Hague National Museum (Netherlands), the British Museum (London), and the Museum of Modern Art (New York).