Satoko Hojo stands as a central figure across multiple story arcs and continuities. Born in 1971, her childhood was marked by familial instability due to her mother's repeated marriages and divorces, leading her to use the surnames Hatake, Yoshizawa, Matsuura, and finally Hojo. This instability fostered distrust towards stepfathers, with her sole reliable family bond being with her older brother, Satoshi Hojo. During the Hinamizawa Dam Project conflicts, her parents' support for the dam made the family targets of village ostracism. A pivotal incident unfolded in 1980 at Shirakawa Park. Suffering undiagnosed Hinamizawa Syndrome, Satoko developed severe paranoia that her parents intended to kill her, culminating in her pushing them off a cliff during the Watanagashi Festival. Hospitalized afterward at Irie Clinic, she nearly became a test subject for Hinamizawa Syndrome research before an experimental treatment saved her. She and Satoshi were then placed under the care of abusive relatives Teppei and Tamae Hojo. After Tamae's murder by Satoshi to protect Satoko, and Satoshi's subsequent disappearance, Satoko became an orphan and moved in with her friend Rika Furude. Personality-wise, Satoko displays energetic mischievousness, often expressed through elaborate trap-setting targeting Keiichi Maebara. Despite this playful exterior, she possesses sharp analytical abilities demonstrated during crises, such as mapping school blueprints in hostage scenarios. A core aspect involves pathological independence stemming from guilt over burdening others, compelling her to conceal suffering even in dire circumstances. Academically disinclined yet strategically gifted, her trap-making relies on psychological prediction and behavioral observation. Key relationships define her motivations. Her devotion to Satoshi manifests in calling him "Nii-Nii," a term later extended to Keiichi as a brother figure. Shion Sonozaki earns the sister-term "Nee-Nee" after rescuing Satoko. Her bond with Rika Furude proves most complex, evolving from deep childhood friendship to central conflict in later arcs. Following Matsuribayashi-hen's resolution, this relationship fractures when both attend St. Lucia Academy. Struggling academically and socially while Rika adapts successfully, Satoko feels abandoned, fueling resentment that culminates in a deal with the entity Eua: Satoko gains looping powers to trap Rika in endless cycles of June 1983, initiating their conflict across Gou and Sotsu. The looping ability transforms Satoko physically and psychologically. Her irises occasionally blaze red like Rika's, reflecting her new powers. She develops a detached "witch" persona embracing violence to manipulate timelines, memorizing fragments to orchestrate repeated murders and suicides, including killing a reformed Teppei and her own human self during internal conflicts. Despite this ruthlessness, moments of vulnerability surface, such as involuntary tears during manipulations and flinching at Teppei's rage, indicating buried trauma. Alternate continuities present different facets. Saikoroshi-hen depicts a world without tragedies where Satoko appears cold and academically polished, bullying Rika due to perceived exploitation of classmates. The Rei manga sequel shows her adulthood in Hinamizawa, married to Kisaku Kimiyoshi with a daughter Sakiko, running a souvenir shop. Kira's OVA includes a non-canon magical girl segment featuring Satoko and Rika fighting crime. Her appearance evolves across media. As a child, she sports short blonde hair with a headband, rose/purple eyes, and distinctive fang-like canines. School attire consists of a green sailor dress, while casual wear includes a pink shirt and denim shorts. In Gou and Sotsu, her middle school uniform matches Rika's navy-blue sailor outfit, and St. Lucia scenes show her in that academy's uniform. Adult depictions feature slightly shorter hair.