Koda was born in Niyodogawa (formerly Agawa village), Kōchi Prefecture, Japan on 1 July 1898. In her early 20s, she married a farmer and raised seven children whilst aiding her husband with farm work.

Koda became the oldest resident of Kōchi upon the death of Chika Kitagawa between March and September 2008. From the age of 110, she was mostly bed-bound. At the time of her 112th birthday, she had eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Koda died of heart failure at a hospital in Ochi, Kōchi Prefecture on 9 June 2011 at 9:16 p. m., at the age of 112 years, 343 days. She was the sixth-oldest person in Japan upon her death.