Ohana Matsumae is the protagonist of the anime Hanasaku Iroha. She is a sixteen-year-old high school student, born and raised in Tokyo, who is small in stature but notable for her boundless energy and generally optimistic outlook. Her early life was shaped by her mother Satsuki, a careless and often neglectful single parent, which forced Ohana to become independent at a young age. This upbringing instilled in her a firm belief that she could rely only on herself, a mindset that defines much of her early behavior. When her mother elopes with her boyfriend to escape debt, Ohana is abruptly sent to live with her estranged maternal grandmother, Sui Shijima, at a traditional hot spring inn called Kissuiso in the rural countryside.

Upon arriving at the inn, Ohana is not treated as a beloved granddaughter but is instead given work as a waitress in exchange for her lodging. The strict and demanding environment comes as a shock, and her enthusiasm frequently puts her at odds with the established staff. Her personality is characterized by strong ideals, a pronounced sense of justice, and an impulsive desire to help others, though her well-meaning efforts often backfire or go unappreciated. She tends to speak her mind directly and throws herself into tasks with more vigor than skill, which leads to frequent blunders and occasional embarrassment. Underneath her energetic exterior, she is prone to overthinking and awkwardness, especially regarding her personal feelings, and her tendency to push herself to be useful is rooted in her fear of being a burden.

Her motivation initially centers on proving herself and adapting to a life she did not choose. She decides to treat her circumstances as an opportunity to change herself for the better and to earn a place among the people of Kissuiso. The grueling routine of inn work, with its emphasis on hospitality, discipline, and attention to detail, becomes the vehicle for her growth. Over the course of the story, she learns that going through life entirely alone is difficult and begins to accept help and emotional support from others, gradually replacing self-reliance with mutual reliance.

In the story, Ohana serves as the central figure through which the world of the inn is explored. Her presence disrupts the routines of Kissuiso and forces both the staff and herself to confront their own flaws. She becomes a catalyst for change, whether by rallying the workers, caring for guests, or involving herself in the inn's struggles to stay afloat. Her journey traces her transformation from an impulsive and somewhat naive girl into a more patient and understanding young woman who grasps the value of responsibility, family, and the meaning the inn holds for those who have built their lives around it.

Her key relationships are central to this development. Her bond with her grandmother Sui begins with friction, as Ohana's ideals clash with Sui's rigid management style, but it gradually deepens into a hard-won mutual respect. With Minko Tsurugi, a prickly apprentice cook who initially treats her with open hostility, Ohana slowly breaks through the animosity and the two develop a complicated friendship that moves from rivalry to genuine care. Nako Oshimizu, a shy and quiet coworker, becomes a supportive friend and teaches Ohana the ropes of her duties. At school she also befriends Yuina Wakura, the heir of a rival inn. Her relationship with Kouichi Tanemura, her best friend back in Tokyo, carries an unresolved romantic thread, as he confessed his feelings to her just before her departure and ran off before she could respond, leaving her to sort out her emotions from a distance. During the Bonbori Festival, she eventually confesses her own feelings to him, marking a significant step in her emotional maturity. Her relationship with her mother also evolves, as she comes to better understand Satsuki's flaws while also recognizing the value of the family ties she once lacked.

Ohana has no supernatural abilities. Her notable strengths are her adaptability, resilience, and a practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving. Years of fending for herself gave her capable cooking skills and a willingness to do unpleasant work, while her stubborn optimism helps her withstand setbacks and rejection. Her sincerity, though sometimes clumsy, is what ultimately wins over the people around her. She ends the series having matured into a person who can face responsibility, express vulnerability, and understand that growing up is something earned through daily effort, and she comes to see the inn not as a punishment but as a place worth fighting for. After Kissuiso temporarily closes, she returns to Tokyo with her mother, carrying with her the lessons and relationships she built during her time at the inn.