Fujiko Itō is introduced as a new friend and classmate of the title character after she enters Mitsuba Women's College. Her background is marked by a dedicated history in ballet, having started her training at a young age and believing it to be her entire life's purpose. However, her dream of becoming a professional ballerina was cut short because she grew too tall during her growth period, a development that forced her to give up the discipline she loved. This history as a ballerina is a central part of her identity and is initially a source of sadness. She can be sensitive about her height, which is notably around one hundred eighty-three centimeters, and dislikes it when people comment on it.

As a person, Fujiko yearns for a more traditionally feminine life after entering college, and it is through this desire that she becomes close friends with Yawara. Despite her initial shyness regarding her past and stature, she is a loyal and proactive friend. Her primary motivation in the story is directly tied to her friendship with Yawara. When Yawara considers giving up judo, Fujiko takes the initiative to gather people and form a women's judo club at their college, creating an environment where Yawara could continue the sport. This selfless act serves as her entry point into the world of judo, which she initially takes up primarily to help and support her friend. However, this decision reveals her own hidden potential, as she is soon discovered to have a remarkable natural talent for the sport.

Fujiko's role in the story evolves significantly from being a supportive friend to a major rival and a quasi-protagonist in her own right. Her growth as an athlete is one of the series' central narratives, becoming a parallel story to Yawara's own journey. Under the guidance of Yawara's grandfather, the legendary Jigoro Inokuma, who recognizes her raw talent, Fujiko blossoms into a top-tier judoka. Her character development is dramatic: in less than five years from first stepping onto a judo mat, she rises through the ranks to win a national championship, qualify for the Olympic team, and ultimately compete in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where she wins a bronze medal.

Regarding key relationships, her bond with Yawara is the most significant, serving as the foundation for her entire story arc. Her romantic life becomes intertwined with Kaoru Hanazono, an old classmate and friend of Yawara's from high school. Their relationship progresses, and she becomes pregnant, leading her to marry Hanazono and temporarily step away from her athletic career to focus on her family. She gives birth to a daughter named Fukuko. Motherhood does not end her athletic journey; instead, it becomes a new source of inspiration. Seeing Yawara in a state of despair and on the verge of quitting judo, Fujiko returns to competition to encourage her friend, dramatically winning the national championship that also served as the Olympic qualifier.

Fujiko's fighting style and notable abilities are heavily influenced by her ballet training, making her a unique and graceful competitor. Because of her long limbs and background, her judo techniques are often described as beautiful and ballet-like. She is initially only able to properly execute two types of techniques, one of which is Osoto Gari, a major outer reap. Due to her exceptionally long legs, her opponents would feel this throw coming from a great distance, leading to it being nicknamed Swan Lake. Her other signature technique is Ouchi Gari, a major inner reap. This move was so powerful and visually striking that it earned the nickname Nutcracker, as she would use her long legs to lift her opponent high into the air.