She is beautiful, yet inscrutable; enigmatic but ruthless Queen who ruled Yamatai thousands of years ago with the support of her Stormguard. She surrounds herself with the Priestesses of the Sun with no men attending her. She is believed to be able to communicate with the spiritual world, and to control the sun and the rain. She is worshipped by some of the inhabitants of the island, but appears to be more than a Queen to them.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow
Himiko is the first and last queen of the island, as her soul is passed through generations. Himiko chooses to "adopt" certain females in different communities to live with her in luxury, dubbing them "Daughters of the Sun", never to want for anything again. This is considered the greatest of honours, which will raise the chosen family to the height of Yamatai society. However, there is a sinister twist. She will choose one to participate in a ceremony, when the Sun Queen becomes old, where her soul will be transferred into the chosen priestess, therefore extending the Queen's lifespan and rule.