Junko Tamiya studied in the Osaka College of Music during the eighties with several other female video game music composers such as Soyo Oka, Miki Higashino and Yoko Shimomura. After graduating she became part of Capcom's Sound Team. Her co-workers would often call her "Tami-chan" as a nickname during her time at the company. During times of creative drought, Junko san would look to movies, books, paintings, and songs from other artists to boost her creativity. She would also discuss these with her Sound Team colleagues, the game designers and other developers at Capcom to gain inspiration.