Noriko Sato

Noriko Sato is a witch and a student at the Mahoutokoro School of Magic in Japan. Her character is introduced exclusively within the *Hogwarts Legacy* video game, where she interacts with the protagonist through correspondence. She plays a minor but notable role in a side quest, providing insight into the international wizarding community and its connections to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Noriko's history is known entirely through her interactions in the late 19th century (Hogwarts Legacy video game). She is a pen pal of Natsai Onai, a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts. Through their Owl Post correspondence, Noriko learns about the player's adventures at Hogwarts. During the “Portrait in a Pickle” side quest, Noriko becomes involved in the mystery surrounding a missing piece of a portrait of former Hogwarts Headmaster, Ferdinand Octavius Pratt. She receives a piece of the enchanted tapestry by owl, believing it to be a gift from Natsai. The player corresponds with Noriko to retrieve the tapestry piece, which she willingly sends back to Hogwarts after learning of its importance. Her letters reveal a polite and curious nature, as she expresses fascination with Hogwarts and its culture (Hogwarts Legacy video game).

Noriko's physical appearance is only known through a moving photograph she sends to the player. In it, she is depicted as a young woman with dark hair, wearing the ornate, color-changing robes characteristic of Mahoutokoro students (Hogwarts Legacy video game). Her personality, conveyed through her letters, is friendly, inquisitive, and respectful. She is fascinated by the differences between Mahoutokoro and Hogwarts and shows an eagerness to help once she understands the situation with the portrait. She demonstrates a trusting nature, initially accepting the mysterious tapestry piece as a simple gift from her friend.

As a student at Mahoutokoro School of Magic, Noriko is proficient in various forms of magic taught at the esteemed Japanese wizarding school. However, no specific spells or magical skills are demonstrated by her directly. Her ability to communicate effectively over long distances via Owl Post is a key element of her character's role in the story (Hogwarts Legacy video game).

• Mahoutokoro Robes: Noriko is seen wearing the enchanted robes of her school, which are known to change color according to the wearer's academic and magical prowess (Pottermore).
• Moving Photograph: She possesses a magical, moving photograph of herself, which she sends to the player at Hogwarts (Hogwarts Legacy video game).

Noriko's primary relationship is her long-distance friendship with Natsai Onai. Their connection highlights the existence of international friendships between students of different magical schools. She also develops a friendly, if brief, correspondence with the protagonist of *Hogwarts Legacy*, assisting them in their quest and expressing a shared interest in the wizarding world.

• Noriko (のりこ, ノリコ): A common Japanese female given name. Depending on the kanji characters used, “Nori” can mean “rule,” “ceremony,” or “law,” and “ko” is a common suffix for female names meaning “child.”
• Sato (佐藤): One of the most common surnames in Japan. “Sa” (佐) means “help” or “assist,” and “tō” (藤) refers to the wisteria plant, a flower of great cultural significance in Japan.

Noriko Sato is a character created specifically for the *Hogwarts Legacy* video game (2023) and does not appear in the original seven *Harry Potter* novels by J.K. Rowling. Her character exists to facilitate the “Portrait in a Pickle” side quest and to expand the game's world by showing direct interaction with a student from another wizarding school mentioned in supplementary materials. She is never met in person and is only seen in a photograph and communicates via letters.