Shoto originally had a cold, aloof personality, which stemmed from his abusive upbringing and complicated family life. Focused and unemotional, Shoto preferred to keep to himself instead of hanging out with other people. After the events of the U.A. Sports Festival, however, Shoto notably became more sociable and kind, even gaining a sense of humor and occasionally smiling, although still retaining some fragments of his previous distant attitude.
 
His hair is evenly split between two colors: white on his right side and crimson red on his left, this unusual coloring being due to his Quirk Half-Cold Half-Hot (AKA 'ICY HOT'). As another result of this, he also possesses heterochromia iridium, which causes his left eye's iris to appear turquoise, while his right is a brownish dark gray.
 
Shoto's Quirk gives him the ability to generate ice from the right side of his body, and flames from his left side.