Kotake Sakura serves as the paternal grandmother of Momoko Sakura (Maruko) and Sakiko Sakura. She is Tomozo Sakura's wife, Hiroshi Sakura's mother, and Sumire Sakura's mother-in-law. Her appearance includes grey hair secured in a bun with a pink hairpin and round glasses. She typically wears a maroon kimono both at home and outdoors, occasionally switching to a short-sleeved purple dress with a collar during summer. Historical depictions note she was considered attractive in her youth.

Kotake displays a kind, warm demeanor, especially when providing health guidance or dietary advice during illnesses. Influenced by traditional wisdom, she practices prudent habits like insisting mold or insects in food are beneficial rather than wasteful. She also collects miscellaneous objects such as bottle caps for potential future use, a habit that sometimes frustrates Maruko.

Her skills include proficiency in traditional Japanese games like cat's cradle, which she teaches Maruko. Favorite foods encompass sweet natto, yokan, and sekihan. She treasures a photo album created collaboratively with Maruko as her most valued possession and admires the singer Shinobu Oshizaki.

Within family relationships, Kotake shares a typical grandmother-grandchild dynamic with Maruko, blending occasional indulgence with practical knowledge-sharing. Her interactions with other family members, though less frequently depicted, consistently reflect a supportive, nurturing role. Her background and personality remain uniform across the series and related media, with no significant character evolution documented.