Schoenmacher led for a part of the race had to settle for the silver medal position with a time of 1:05.22.
World record holder Lilly King, of the US, claimed the bronze in 1:05.54.
Schoenmaker is the first South African woman to win a Games swimming medal since Penny Heyns at Sydney 2000.
HeraldLIVE
Silver medal for Tatjana in Tokyo
Sports editor
Image: GETTY IMAGES/ MADDIE MEYER
Tatjana Schoenmaker secured South Africa's first medal at the 2020 Toyko Olympics by coming second in the women's 100m breaststroke final early on Tuesday morning.
Schoenmaker went into the final as the fastest qualifier and was the slight favourite for the gold medal.
But in the end it was American Lydia Jacoby, who won the gold medal in 1:04.95.
Tatjana Schoenmaker breaks Olympic record in heats
Schoenmacher led for a part of the race had to settle for the silver medal position with a time of 1:05.22.
World record holder Lilly King, of the US, claimed the bronze in 1:05.54.
Schoenmaker is the first South African woman to win a Games swimming medal since Penny Heyns at Sydney 2000.
HeraldLIVE
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