Sha Gojyo is a half-human, half-youkai outcast, marked by crimson hair and eyes that signify his mixed heritage and scarred him with societal prejudice as a "taboo child." His childhood was shattered at age three when his human mother and youkai father died by double suicide, leaving him the sole survivor. Raised by his father's youkai widow, his stepmother poured her resentment over her husband's infidelity into brutal beatings, leaving lasting scars including two prominent slashes on his left cheek. Only his older half-brother, Jien, intervened as his protector. When Gojyo was approximately twelve, his stepmother attacked him with an axe aimed at his head. Jien killed their mother to save him, then vanished, abandoning Gojyo and burdening him with guilt.

Left guardianless, Gojyo survived as a street urchin through gambling and petty crime. As a teenager, he partnered with a youkai named Banri, sharing a house and sustaining their gambling existence until Banri's unexplained disappearance. Around nineteen, Gojyo discovered the severely wounded Cho Gonou (later Hakkai) in a forest. Despite initial hesitation, Gojyo took him in, initiating their cohabitation. Soon after, Genjo Sanzo and Son Goku arrived, tracking Hakkai for past crimes. Following a confrontation involving a survivor of Hakkai's actions—during which Hakkai tore out his own right eye as penance—Hakkai chose life and adopted his new name. Gojyo and Hakkai established a shared household, with Hakkai managing domestic duties. Gojyo later joined Sanzo, Goku, and Hakkai on their journey to India, initially reluctant but gradually accepting his place within the group.

His hybrid nature grants heightened resilience and faster healing than humans, though the scars on his cheek endure. He possesses no overt youkai powers, potentially due to dominant human blood or an undefined deficiency. His primary weapon is the Shakugetsujou, a treasured bladed staff featuring a sickle and chain, manipulated telekinetically via its chain. He relies on physical prowess and agility in combat over supernatural abilities.

Gojyo projects a carefree womanizer persona, indulging in alcohol, gambling, and flirtation—a veneer masking deep insecurities rooted in childhood abandonment and abuse. His pursuit of women reflects a lifelong confusion about love, once stating: "Just once, I think I wanna know. What exactly is love? Not that I want it particularly." Beneath a lazy, sarcastic exterior, he is observant, emotionally perceptive, and fiercely loyal. He often connects through physical touch—patting shoulders or ruffling hair—with trusted companions. Distrustful of strangers, he is intensely protective of those close to him, especially children or the vulnerable. His self-loathing, particularly regarding his red hair as a symbol of "tainted" blood, slowly lessened through acceptance by his found family.

Within the Sanzo group, Gojyo acts as Goku's primary sparring partner and quasi-big brother, channeling Goku's energy through playful brawls and bickering. His dynamic with Sanzo is contentious, defined by constant verbal clashes and mutual irritation, yet underpinned by unspoken respect and shared traits: both are chain-smokers, value freedom, harbor survivor's guilt, and lost guardians traumatically at age twelve. Their arguments diffuse Sanzo's antisocial tendencies. Gojyo's deepest bond is with Hakkai; years of cohabitation forged a domestic, almost marital rapport. They intuitively sense each other's emotional states, with Gojyo often detecting Hakkai's distress and vice versa. This evolved into mutual reliance, Gojyo providing stability for Hakkai post-trauma.

Over time, Gojyo moved from seeing himself as an isolated outcast to embracing his role. His self-hatred yielded to pragmatic acceptance of his heritage, symbolized by eventual pride in his red hair. The journey fostered emotional growth, transforming his need for belonging into steadfast commitment to protect companions he grudgingly embraced as family.