Fujiko Itô is a significant supporting character who first appears as a new friend and college classmate of the protagonist, Yawara Inokuma. Standing notably tall, she carries the lingering sadness of a dream abandoned. From a young age, Fujiko dedicated herself to ballet, believing it to be her entire future. However, her growth spurt made her too tall to continue pursuing classical dance professionally, forcing her to give up the art form that had defined her life.

When she enters Mitsuba Women's College, Fujiko is seeking a new identity and longs for the feminine, ordinary life she feels she had missed. It is there that she befriends Yawara. In contrast to Yawara's reluctant relationship with judo, Fujiko embraces her college years with a desire for typical social experiences, such as joining the golf club or attending mixers, even if she is somewhat naive and awkward in these settings, such as having no knack for golf or falling ill after drinking.

Fujiko’s role in the story evolves dramatically from a supportive friend into a key figure in Yawara's athletic journey. When Yawara contemplates quitting judo, Fujiko takes the initiative to form a women's judo club at their college, creating an environment where Yawara can continue to practice. What begins as an act of friendship to support Yawara unexpectedly reveals Fujiko’s own extraordinary talent for judo. Her prior training in ballet provides her with exceptional grace, body control, and powerful leg strength, which translates seamlessly into the sport. Yawara's grandfather, the stern master Jigoro Inokuma, recognizes this potential immediately, remarking on the authenticity of her gift.

Her character development is one of the most pronounced in the series, transforming from a young woman who had lost her purpose into a world-class athlete. Her natural aptitude allows her to rise through the ranks of judo with astonishing speed. After winning domestic competitions, she transfers to a premier physical education university and eventually earns a spot on the national team. Her journey culminates in a dramatic narrative loop: after a temporary departure from the sport to marry and start a family, it is Fujiko who later inspires a despairing Yawara to take up judo once more. Fujiko’s return to competition leads her to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where she achieves the remarkable feat of winning a bronze medal less than four years after she first began practicing judo.

Key relationships heavily define Fujiko’s path. Her friendship with Yawara is the heart of her story, marked by mutual support and inspiration. Her relationship with Kaoru Hanazono, a former classmate of Yawara, adds another layer to her life, as she finds love and starts a family with him, referring to him as sweet and handsome. In terms of notable abilities, Fujiko’s judo style is a direct inheritance from her ballet days. Her long limbs allow her to execute techniques with exceptional range and power. Her signature move is a long-range Osoto Gari, a major outer reap, which opponents describe as seeing long legs flying from far away. Because of its elegant, sweeping motion, this technique is nicknamed Swan Lake. She also develops a powerful thigh-grip throw known as the Nutcracker, where she uses her long legs to lift opponents high into the air, a devastating technique that blends her athletic power with the grace of her former discipline.