After graduating from the University of Tokyo with an economics degree in 1976, Ohta entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

She was re-elected in 2004, and after eight years in office was succeeded by lawyer and TV personality Tōru Hashimoto.

She repeatedly challenged the Sumo Association's policy by requesting to be allowed to fulfill her traditional role as governor.

Ohta's family name has been officially registered as Saitō (齊藤) since her marriage, but she uses her maiden name above for most public purposes.

Ohta's family name is romanized as Ohta by the URL of her website (ohtafusae.jp), the state government of Hawaii,[5] the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific,[6] Kansai Window,[7] and Dawn Center.