Makoto Kino is the civilian identity of Sailor Jupiter, one of the four inner Sailor Guardians in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal. She is introduced as a fourteen-year-old student transferring to Juuban Municipal Junior High School. Her parents died in a plane crash when she was young, leaving her to live alone in an apartment and develop a strong sense of self-reliance. She is notably tall for her age and possesses extraordinary physical strength, which has led to rumors that she was expelled from her previous school for fighting. These rumors are rooted in truth: Makoto has a history of getting into brawls, often defending herself or others from bullies. However, her tough exterior conceals a gentle, nurturing nature. She is passionate about cooking, baking, gardening, and flower arranging, and her dream is to one day get married and run a cake and flower shop. She also enjoys martial arts, video games, shopping, and reading romance novels, while she dislikes cheaters, physics, and airplanes, the latter triggering memories of her parents' death.

Makoto's motivation stems from a desire for connection and belonging. Having lost her family and frequently changed schools, she longs for close relationships and often falls for boys who remind her of a former senpai, an older boy who broke her heart. This romantic idealism is balanced by her fiercely protective nature; she immediately befriends Usagi Tsukino after rescuing her from harassers and sharing a homemade lunch. As the fourth Sailor Guardian to awaken, she embraces her role as Sailor Jupiter, the Guardian of Thunder and Courage. In the story, she serves as the physical powerhouse of the team, using her superhuman strength and electrical abilities in combat. She also acts as a stabilizing presence and emotional anchor, often described as a "big sister" or coordinator among the inner guardians.

Her key relationships include a deep friendship with Usagi, whom she admires for her kindness and lack of judgment. She grows close to Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino, and Minako Aino, forming a tight-knit bond with each. In Sailor Moon Crystal, it is revealed that during the ancient Silver Millennium, Sailor Jupiter and the Shitennou member Nephrite were in love, adding a layer of tragic romance to her past life. This history influences her present, though she remains open to new connections. Throughout the series, Makoto's development centers on learning to trust others, overcoming her fear of rejection, and balancing her independent strength with her desire for companionship. She matures from a lonely transfer student into a confident, loyal guardian who willingly sacrifices herself to protect her friends.

As Sailor Jupiter, her abilities are rooted in her associated planet's elemental symbolism: wood and lightning. She commands electrokinesis, summoning powerful bolts of lightning and thunder through attacks such as Supreme Thunder, Sparkling Wide Pressure, and Jupiter Oak Evolution. She also has minor plant-based abilities, such as generating a Flower Hurricane. In addition to these magical powers, she relies on her raw physical strength and martial arts skills, making her the most formidable hand-to-hand combatant among the inner guardians. Over the course of Sailor Moon Crystal, she gains the Jupiter Crystal and ascends to Super Sailor Jupiter and later Eternal Sailor Jupiter, unlocking even stronger attacks like Jupiter Oak Evolution. Her transformation phrases evolve from Jupiter Power, Make Up to Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up, reflecting her growing power. Makoto's character embodies a harmonious duality: she is both the strongest fighter and the most domestically inclined of the guardians, a combination that makes her a uniquely rounded and memorable figure in the series.