Shimura Otae, frequently called Otae with the honorific "O," is the older sister of Shimura Shinpachi and co-owner of the Koudoukan dojo inherited from their father. After their parents' early deaths, she took responsibility for raising Shinpachi and preserving the family dojo despite mounting debts. To support them financially, she works as a cabaret hostess at Snack Smile in Kabuki District; her beauty and no-nonsense attitude make her the establishment's top attraction, and she often acts as an unofficial bouncer due to her readiness to physically confront unruly patrons. Otae possesses striking brown eyes, brown hair typically in a ponytail, and stands 168 cm tall. She commonly wears a pink yukata with red floral patterns. Her smile carries dual meaning: it radiates gentle warmth but also signals imminent danger when angered, resembling a defensive mechanism. She openly acknowledges being flat-chested. Her personality blends resilience with volatility; outwardly cheerful and fiercely protective of loved ones, she masks personal struggles behind a constant smile. However, she exhibits explosive temper outbursts, especially toward stalkers like Kondou Isao, and uses vulgar language that Shinpachi frequently chastises as unladylike. She demonstrates cunning manipulation, feigning kindness to achieve goals like outperforming rivals or sabotaging adversaries. Trained in the Tendoumushin sword-fighting style at Koudoukan, Otae wields exceptional combat prowess, specializing in devastating naginata techniques. Her physical strength is monstrous, enabling feats like crushing steel helmets with toy hammers, punching through walls, and creating craters with drop kicks. Despite this, she rarely engages in formal battles, primarily directing violence toward recurring offenders like Kondou or Sakata Gintoki. Her notorious cooking produces "Dark Matter" fried eggs linked to Shinpachi's nearsightedness, Kondou's amnesia, and severe digestive reactions. Most ingredients she handles inexplicably burn, except one non-canon instance of edible konjac jelly. Key relationships define her: she shares a deeply protective bond with Shinpachi, whom she shielded from childhood bullies; she violently rebuffs Kondou's obsessive advances while tolerating his presence; she maintains a childhood friendship with Yagyū Kyūbei after promising marriage to replace the eye Kyūbei lost defending her from debt collectors; and she serves as an emotional anchor for the Yorozuya trio. She later ascends to become one of Kabuki District's Four Devas, earning the title "Queen of Kabuki District." Quirks include a paralyzing fear of supernatural entities—which triggers destructive rage—and fandom of the band B'z. Her Bargain Dash ice cream preference parodies Häagen-Dazs. Her story begins with debt collectors threatening the dojo, leading to a hostage situation resolved by Gintoki and Shinpachi. This incident solidified her resolve to protect her family's legacy independently. Throughout subsequent arcs, she balances hostess duties with defending Kabuki District, culminating in her Four Devas role. Though her goal of reviving Koudoukan recedes narratively, her influence persists through community leadership and unflinching loyalty to those she protects.