Oryō Sonozaki, elderly head of the influential Sonozaki family governing Hinamizawa, bears a name containing the character for "demon" (鬼), signifying her position, though the actual kanji 魎 references a mountain spirit. She and her husband Souhei revitalized the village post-World War II using black market funds. A rumor emerged that reconstruction food supplies contained human flesh, leading to ostracization; though later revealed false, Oryō fostered village unity against external threats. During the dam conflict, she led resistance efforts, with the Sonozakis falsely claiming responsibility for acts like the 1978 kidnapping of a minister's grandson to enhance their feared reputation, perpetuating beliefs about their involvement in "Oyashiro-sama's curse" killings. Her animosity toward the Houjou family stemmed from perceived disrespect during the dam war, though she never intended this to extend to their children. Oryō disowned her daughter Akane for marrying a yakuza outsider, enforcing the traditional punishment requiring Akane to remove fingernails; Oryō later performed this act on herself privately as atonement. When twin granddaughters Mion and Shion were born, tradition dictated killing one to avoid succession disputes. Oryō defied this but separated them: grooming Mion as heir while sending Shion away, fueling Shion's resentment, though Oryō privately maintained tea meetings with Akane. In original storylines, she dies multiple times. In Meakashi-hen, Shion accidentally kills her with a stun gun during interrogation and desecrates her corpse. In Minagoroshi-hen, she covertly supports Keiichi’s effort to rescue Satoko Houjou from abuse but requires a fabricated story of coercion to preserve the family’s reputation, negotiating with the mayor to ensure Satoko’s safety. She consistently perishes in the Great Hinamizawa Disaster of 1983. In Matsuribayashi-hen, she formally ends the dam conflict and the "curse" narrative during the 1984 festival, acknowledging the need for change in the village, partly influenced by Mion’s earlier pleas regarding the Houjou situation. In Gou/Sotsu, this announcement recurs in 1983, but timeline disruptions alter events. During Watadamashi-hen, a deranged Mion kills her with a stun gun and disposes of her body. In Tataridamashi-hen, she again aids Satoko’s rescue identically to Minagoroshi-hen. Following the final battle between Rika and Satoko, she is seen visiting graves in a stabilized world. The spin-off *Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Oni* depicts her youth as "Ryou Sonozaki" in 1923, cheerful and leading a friend group exploring Furude Shrine secrets. By 1938, she assists her grandmother Okai in family duties and reconnects with friends, including love interest Souhei Origuchi; her name then incorporates the "demon" kanji (鬼両), foreshadowing her future role. Privately, Oryō exhibits kindness—making ohagi for the grave of a dam construction foreman and arranging land sales to attract outsiders like the Maebara family. She respects Keiichi’s determination and encourages Mion’s affection toward him.