Satoko Houjou, a central figure in the visual novel series *Higurashi no Naku Koro ni*, was born on June 24, 1971, in the rural village of Hinamizawa. Her childhood featured profound instability and trauma stemming from her mother's repeated marriages and divorces, resulting in multiple surname changes (Hatake, Yoshizawa, Matsūra, and finally Hōjō). Distrusting her stepfathers, she conflated their actions into a belief of abuse. This instability contributed to her developing severe paranoia and the terminal phase (L5) of Hinamizawa Syndrome. A pivotal trauma occurred during the 1980 Watanagashi Festival at Shirakawa Park. One account describes her pushing her parents off a cliff in a paranoid belief they intended to kill her, while an alternate version depicts their deaths as accidental when a corroded railing collapsed as she rushed to hug them after overhearing their loving intentions. Hospitalized at the Irie Clinic afterward, she was nearly dissected as a research subject before rescue via Dr. Irie's experimental drug C-103. Satoko and her older brother Satoshi were then placed under the care of their abusive uncle Teppei Hōjō and aunt Tamae. Satoshi disappeared after murdering Tamae to protect Satoko, leading Satoko to live with her friend Rika Furude. Physically, Satoko has short blonde hair, often worn with a black headband, and distinctive sharp canine teeth ("vampire fangs"). Her eye color varies between rose, magenta, or purple across adaptations, shifting to blazing red after gaining fragment-traveling abilities. She possesses a petite stature, though is sometimes depicted taller than Rika. Common outfits include a bright green sailor uniform with a yellow tie for school, and a pink sleeveless shirt with denim shorts casually. In later timelines (1988), she wears St. Lucia Academy's high school uniform. A magical girl transformation outfit appears in non-canonical media, featuring a yellow dress with elaborate decorations. Personality-wise, Satoko presents as energetic, mischievous, and haughty, often using a refined but grammatically flawed speaking style. She is known for her distinctive "Ohoho!" laugh and prankster tendencies, specializing in elaborate traps that earn her the nickname "Trapmaster." Despite her aversion to academics, she demonstrates sharp analytical skills, deducing complex scenarios under pressure. Her traumatic past fuels a fierce desire for independence and a reluctance to show vulnerability, though she harbors deep care for her friends. Under stress or Hinamizawa Syndrome's influence, her behavior shifts toward paranoia and violence. Her relationships are complex. She idolizes her brother Satoshi, referring to him as "Nii-Nii." After his disappearance, she transfers this familial affection to Keiichi Maebara and Shion Sonozaki ("Nee-Nee"). Her bond with Rika is especially profound; they live together as orphans, with Satoko viewing Rika as her closest companion. This dependence becomes destructive in later arcs when Satoko perceives Rika's desire to attend St. Lucia Academy as abandonment. Across the series, Satoko's role evolves significantly. In earlier arcs, she is a victim of abuse and the syndrome's effects, experiencing repeated deaths. In Matsuribayashi-hen, she aids her friends using her trap-making skills against antagonists. The sequel series Gou and Sotsu reveal her obtaining fragment-traveling abilities from the entity Eua, allowing her to loop through timelines. Driven by loneliness and fear of losing Rika, she orchestrates events to trap Rika in Hinamizawa, becoming the primary antagonist. This includes manipulating friends, committing murder-suicides, and confronting a split between her "witch" self (ruthless and calculating) and her human self (conflicted and remorseful). The conflict culminates in a duel with Rika, followed by a pact to remain together. In the alternate world of Saikoroshi-hen, Satoko has a stable family with Satoshi but exhibits coldness toward Rika due to perceiving her as spoiled. In the Rei manga set 35 years later, she marries Kisaku Kimiyoshi, runs a souvenir shop, and has a daughter named Sakiko. These depictions exist outside the main continuity.