Rank: Ensign
Division: Operations
Current Assignment: NX-01 Enterprise, Commissioned in 2151
Note: This is her first shipboard assignment. She was personally requested by Captain Jonathon Archer as his first choice for his Communications Officer.
Commanding Officer: Jonathon Archer, Captain
Station: Communications Officer
Specialities: Exo-linguistics, Translator
Note: She has a natural affinity for picking up languages. An expert in exo-linguistics, she has learned to manipulate her vocal chords to emit a range of alien sounds no human has ever produced. She also has acute audio perception in a wide range of frequencies, some of which cannot be heard by humans or Vulcans. Considered to be a prodigy in her field.
Fluency In: 38 languages pre-assignment, current estimate: 40.
Official Absences From Starfleet: 2151: Taught exo-linguistics at Amazon University, Brazil. Returned 3 weeks ahead of schedule, at the request of Captain Archer.
Length of Time Spent In Training: 3 Years
Graduating Class Position: 2nd
Training Tour Completed: 2
Weapons Clearance: EM Sidearms, Class 3 Pulse Rifles. (Phase Pistols were also handled in "Fight Or Flight", clearance to be recorded after training w/ Lt. Reed.)
Psychological Profile: Report of Starfleet Medical/Counselor's Office
Hoshi is a young, spirited, intelligent woman with an extraordinary gift for alien languages who also serves as Enterprise's translator, a vital role when making first contact. A "white-knuckle" space-farer, Hoshi reluctantly gave up her teaching job after being convinced by Archer to join Starfleet. Archer has more faith in Sato than she does in her herself.
Name:
Hoshi: Given Name.

In the Japanese writing style "kanji", which is an adoption of the Chinese writing style, Hoshi is written with the symbol meaning "star". The symbol is in itself a combination of the characters for "sun" (from the top, ending at the third horizontal line) and "birth" (everything below the third line from the top). Is a star what a sun would look like when it's born?

In the symbol given, Hoshi as directly translated from the romanized spelling is more commonly seen as a family name than a given name. Other Japanese words that sound like "Hoshi" might have differen symbolic representations, but are generally not used as names.

Excerpt from Baby Names on English based "Hoshi":

The name of Hoshi creates a restless, creative nature that takes you into many ventures, but does not allow you to see things through to a satisfactory completion.

Yours is a versatile, musical, artistic, but independent nature and you must have the freedom to express your creative ideas and abilities to be happy. An urge for independence causes dissatisfaction and frustration in close relationships and you find the "ties that bind" restricting. The qualities of this name would find a more constructive outlet in work that involves high-pressure selling or promotional activities, possibly in community affairs, for it contains a positive, driving power. It is difficult for you to merge with others; although you have quickness of mind, you lack tolerance and can give way to impatience at another's slowness or shortcomings. If you cannot complete your plans when you wish to do so, you could suffer intense moods of depression and extreme sensitivity in the region of the solar plexus, resulting possibly in ulcers or nervous disorders. This name could take you into bitter experiences through impulsive action. You need more stability to find peace of mind, relaxation and happiness in life.

Sato: Family Name

Sa-To. Also written in kanji, along with the traditionally vertical style used in many asian writing systems. The first symbol "Sa" stops at the third horizontal line. "To" is everything below it. These particular symbols were found by cross referencing with Google, as there are many other written forms for the sounds "sa" and "to", but only this one was common in case of family names.

Symbol by symbol analysis shows that the first symbol "Sa" means assist. The second symbol "to" means rattan, wicker, a strong vine, the stuff they make canes and chairs with.

Hoshi Sato: Full Name

Written in kanji in the vertical formation common to asian languages, this is what Hoshi Sato would look like.

The family name would come first, then the given name, i.e. last name then first name: Sato Hoshi.

One can perhaps speculate that the name Hoshi Sato reflects on how Hoshi helps the ENT crew to reach the stars through the strength of her talents. She might be small in stature but she is strong and and a bright star among her peers.

The kanji symbols and symbol parts here were found at the Kanji Site.

Many thanks to Chris - WWW for links and research information.

Season One Profile: Whereas other crew members are chomping at the bit for alien contact and to explore strange new worlds, Hoshi is gradually becoming accustomed to the challenges, unusual experiences and potential dangers of space exploration.

Beginning with her very first mission, Hoshi discovered that being a linguist involves quick thinking on her feet in situations where the safety of the crew was at stake, not to mention making the first impression for humankind in the galaxy. When the Klingon warrior Klaang regained consciousness aboard Enterprise en route to the Klingon homeworld of Q'onoS, it was her job to not only glean any information that might help the mission, but to calm him down and let him know he was not among enemies. Later, once Klaang was rescued from the Suliban and returned to Q'onoS, Hoshi was able to facilitate enough communication between the Klingons and Archer to complete the mission without incident.

Not long after, Enterprise made the grisly discovery of a ship filled with alien corpses, drained of fluids. Hoshi's immediate reaction was terror, which disturbed her in terms of her own professionalism. She considered the possibility that she simply isn't cut out for deep space exploration, but was able to overcome her own fears and insecurities enough to re-board the eerie ship and decipher the controls to send out a distress call to the victims' fellow beings. When they arrived, she was able to break the language barrier and make first contact with this new race, the Axanar, and communicate that humans were not responsible for the massacre, aiding in establishing favorable relations with another new race.

Hoshi was part of the first human away team to disguise themselves as indigenous beings for the purposes of studying a pre-industrial culture when Enterprise visited the Akaali, a race of roughly 500 million living on a Minshara-class planet. This practice of masquerading would be repeated by humans studying alien societies without cultural contamination for centuries to come.

Along with her communications duties, Hoshi is also able to keep an eye on other vital systems. For example, when the Suliban Silik had infiltrated Enterprise disguised as a religious pilgrim, it was Hoshi who noticed when he attempted to bypass the lockout codes in Shuttlepod Launch Bay One.

Implicitly trusted by Captain Archer, Hoshi was entrusted to do some research by Archer into the private life of Malcolm Reed, specifically his favorite foods for a planned surprise birthday celebration. She methodically approached the task like a detective, discreetly contacting his loved ones and even subtly trying to get information directly out of Reed, which led to a temporary misunderstanding, as Reed misinterpreted her enquiries as romantic overtures. In the end, thanks to help from Dr. Phlox, she successfully was able to deduce Reed's favorite food (pineapple) and satisfy Archer's request.

Few things get past Hoshi. For example, she noticed that of all the male crewmembers, Dr. Phlox receives the most mail by far. She gets along well with her crewmates, such as Ensign Elizabeth Cutler. When the two were included on the away team that dealt with the disease-stricken Valakians and the Menk on Valakis, they worked together with Dr. Phlox and both suspected that the Menk were actually second-class citizens used for menial labor on the planet.

As her first year in deep space progressed, Hoshi's initial trepidation ebbed substantially. For example, when she was stranded along with Reed and T'Pol aboard a derelict Klingon vessel sinking slowly into a Class-9 gas giant, she was rattled but able to maintain her cool enough to focus on the task at hand: deciphering the ship's logs, controls and readouts so that they could get the ship running under its own power.

In another unusual circumstance, Hoshi's skills were applied to communicating with a strange creature that had taken up residence in a Shuttlepod Bay and had trapped several crew members, including Captain Archer. In addition to attempting to learn a new language, the organism communicated almost telepathically, forcing Hoshi to improvise a solution, saving not only the crew members, but the creature as well.

Hoshi also has contributed to Starfleet missions in other ways, such as selflessly donating use of her personal quarters to a visiting Vulcan ambassador during her first year on board Enterprise. She views new languages as a challenge, such as her visit to Risa, where she discovered some additional benefits to learning new languages.

As Hoshi continues her tenure aboard Enterprise, she almost mirrors humankind in taking the initial steps into the intergalactic community: tentative and concerned at first, but more and more sure of herself as time goes on. While ready to take whatever action is necessary to help the crew and Starfleet, her accomplishments in communication also provide an example of how tense situations can be diffused through diplomatic means.

Data analysis through Star Trek.com. Jonathan Archer, Captain

Hoshi came on the NX-01 at Captain Archer's personal insistence. Given only three days to ready the Enterprise to deliver Klaang back to Kronos, Captain Archer personally went to Amazon University in Brazil to convince Hoshi to join the crew. Initially reluctant to leave her students, Hoshi relented after Archer showed her a sample of the Klingon linguistic database. Note how he has learned the linguistic lingo in saying Klingon is a warrior race "with eighty polygutteral dialects constructed on an adaptive syntax". It is evident that he made a conscious effort to woo Hoshi for the mission.

Whatever means he took to make sure Hoshi was the communications officer of the NX-01, he is also aware that Hoshi is not typical Starfleet. He has been lenient in terms of her initial discomfort in space, allowing her to switch quarters because the stars were going the wrong way. However, when push comes to shove, Archer makes sure Hoshi does her part as a Starfleet officer and an essential member of the crew and doesn't let her retreat.

There is fandom speculation that Archer knew Hoshi pre-ENT. There is a certain familiarity in their interaction that warrants that conclusion. His personal visit to Brazil could have been conducted through official means. In "Silent Enemy", Archer assigns Hoshi the job of finding out Malcolm's favorite food because it needed her "finess". In 'Sleeping Dogs", in which Hoshi asks to go on the away mission, Archer can be seen in the lingering shot as being proud of the progress Hoshi has made in the few months in space. It should also be noted that the Hoshi's trademark quips also tends to bring a smile to his face. It should be interesting to see his reaction when Hoshi has fully acquired her space legs.


Charles "Trip" Tucker III, Commander, Chief Engineer

Trip's gregarious nature makes it easy for Hoshi to open up to him. In "Fight or Flight", she voices her doubts about her place on the ship to him. He is a good listener and speaks to her not as a commander, but as a fellow crew member. His enthusiasm and wonder for explorating new life and new civilization is a nice contrast to Hoshi's more reserved approach, that is unless she has the time to learn their language and culture without the danger of impending doom. He is impatient for the excitment that comes with exploring new worlds, while she is content to study the details that make up the worlds that they explore.

His confidence in her is absolute. She is THE communications officer of the Enterprise, and she can solve any linguistic mystery. In "Strange New Worlds", Trip, while under the influence, tells T'Pol that he might not be able to read Vulcan, but Hoshi would. He asks for Hoshi's advice about the strange transmissions from "Breaking the Ice". He knows the limits of his abilities and has no trouble in seeking help, but his confidence and loyalty in the crew might blind him to other possibilities. In "Vox Sola" he asks Hoshi if the UT was working correctly when the aliens were storming off the ship. Here, it can be seen that when given a choice between Hoshi's abilities and the UT, he unwaveringly casts the blame on the UT. The conversation in "Shuttlepod One" also highlights how much he admires Hoshi for both her linguistic abilities at an age of 24 or 25 and how she is adjusting to ship life. Whether this admiration will be developed further is unknown, although Trip did mention Hoshi as his wife in "Acquisition".


Malcolm Reed, Lieutenant, Armory Officer

Malcolm and Hoshi's differences in approaching new life and new civilization is shown at its epitome in "Vox Sola" in which Malcolm wants to kill the alien creature and Hoshi wants to communicate with it. In this way, they are the essential left and right hand of Archer in exploration new worlds. In the early episodes, Malcolm can be seen as slightly indulgent of Hoshi as she tries to find her space legs. Unless necessary, he does not push her in any particular way, but gives her the facts and lets her come to her own decisions, i.e. telling her that the tremors of the ship is a result of the deflector sequencing. However, when timing is of the essence, Malcolm has a tendency to become impatient and exasperated with Hoshi's, and in general, any of the crew's, hesitance, such as in the transporter scene of "The Andorian Incident", in the Klingon ship in "Sleeping Dogs", and "Vox Sola".

Nonetheless, circumstances always seem to pit these two opposing personalities together. Not to say that they are entirely different in temperament in that they tend to be rather pessimistic, although in Hoshi's case, it might be way to mask her nervousness. In "Silent Enemy", Hoshi spoke to Malcolm's sister Madeline, uncle Archie, two spinster aunts, and best friend to find out his favorite food, but to no avail. The most she found out was that once Malcolm stopped eating for a week and liked a waitress in San Fransciso named Maureen. Finally, she asked Malcolm himself but instead gave him the impression that she was propositioning him with a hotplate in her quarters.

Hoshi's unfamiliarity with weapons also gave these two the chance to target practice together, such as in "Sleeping Dogs". The first impression Hoshi gave Malcolm is unassuming and timid, as he noted Hoshi never really liked space in "Shuttlepod One", but she has effectively slipped under his radar, thus his surprise at her attitude in "Sleeping Dogs". Perhaps he has attributed her timid behavior to all her other attributes, thus he always seems surprised when she behaves in another way. It now seems Hoshi knows more about Malcolm than any other crew member, and no doubt she enjoys surprising the laconic armory officer in more ways than one.


Mayweather, Ensign, Helmsman

With the same rank of ensign, Hoshi and Travis are also the closest in age. Their interaction is based on some good natured teasing and friendly banter, perhaps the kind that Hoshi would not engage in with an officer of higher rank. They speak and tease as equals, although Hoshi's previous experience as a professor seems to make her the teaser instead of the teasee, such as in the turbolift scene in "Cold Front".

When it comes to diplomatic matters, their rank and positions isolates them from the high ranking staff. This gives them a good chance to bond, as can be seen over the dinner scene in "Shockwave I". Hoshi seems to be more aware of this than Travis. She teases Travis into sitting in the Captain's chair. She also seems more willing to share in Travis's enthusiasm in matters that do not include weapons, machinery, and politics, such as seen in "Terra Nova".


T'Pol, Subcommander, Science Officer

As the only other female on the bridge, the relationship Hoshi has with T'Pol is a conflicting one. It started off as rather antagonistic when T'Pol suggested Hoshi go lie down in her quarters. T'Pol comes off as rather apathetic and stringent, but as seen in "Sleeping Dogs", she is aware of Hoshi's difficulties and after assessing her abilities, has come to accept Hoshi and is willing to share meditation techniques with her. Perhaps the longer she stays with the humans, the more she can sympathize with how one feels in a new and strange environment where everything is touch and go.

However, as a Vulcan, T'Pol does adhere to strict boundaries and sees it as her job to supervise and if necessary, correct her work. Since Hoshi is aware that she is lacking in experience of space, her job as communications officer is perhaps more important to her than anything else. It shows that she belongs on the Enterprise, and to have T'Pol question her judgement is an insult, which is how she takes it in "Vox Sola". There is also an envious undertone of how T'Pol is able to handle herself in situations that Hoshi finds difficult. However, they have come to an understanding that T'Pol is aware how Hoshi has made important contributions to the mission even if she does not express it.


Phlox, Chief Medical Officer

As an outsider of Starfleet, Dr. Phlox is not only able to see outside the box, but his Denobulan point of view is often what Hoshi seeks when she needs a reprieve from the stress of the mission. Perhaps as an extension of the doctor-patient confidentiality clause, Hoshi finds it easy to talk to Phlox and quite possibly find his point of view to be more refreshing than the Starfleet way such as when Dr. Phlox suggested teaching as oppose to continuing with Starfleet in "Fight or Flight". And with Dr. Phlox, she is able to share her knowledge of something other than language, such as why humans behave the way they do, evident in their conversation about human romance, and more specifically, Elizabeth Cutler's intentions torward Phlox in "Dear Doctor".


Ravis, Love Interest

Introduced in "Two Days and Two Nights", Ravis (apparently not Risan himself), first approached Hoshi when he overheard her conversation with a Risian couple. It seems they share a common passion for language and his easy grasp of languages fueled the competitive streak in Hoshi. However, it seems that Ravis's intentions weren't purely academic as he showed her what a "kiwi" means in his language by demonstrating a kiss. It didn't matter to her that this relationship was just going to last for the twos days she was on Risa, and she demonstrated that when Ravis seemed discomforted by the idea that she might think he was taking advantage of her in the morning after. For Hoshi, this was a pleasant interlude in the stress filled life onboard a starship.


Mr. Sato, Father

First appearing in Vanishing Point, Mr. Sato seems, from Hoshi's perspective, rather unknowledgeable about what goes on a starship. He is currently married to Mrs. Sato, given the dialogue in VP.





Broken Bow

Hoshi: I'm on leave from Starfleet remember? You'd have to forcibly recall me, which would require a reprimand, which would disqualify me from serving on an active vessel.
Archer: I need someone with your ear.
Hoshi: And you'll have her. In three weeks.

Hoshi: I don't know, does anybody else feel that?
Archer: Feel what?
Hoshi: Those vibrations, like little tremors?
T'Pol: You're imagining it.
Archer: Bring us to 4.4, ensign.
Hoshi: There! What do you call that?
Reed: The deflector squencing, it's perfectly normal.
T'Pol: Perhaps you'd like to your quarters and lie down.
Hoshi: Pon far mirran.

Klaang: Dommina has! Des--
Archer: You wanna tell him to shut up?
Hoshi: Shut up!

Hoshi: You might think about recommending seatbelts when we get home.

Travis: At this rate the captain will never find us.
Hoshi: Wait a minute, I think I've got something.
T'Pol: Amplify it.
Hoshi: It's Commander Tucker.
Malcolm: All I hear is noise.
Hoshi: It's just a narrow nodge in the mid range. He says he's about to ignite his thruster exaust.

High Council: Pagk! ChuKDi, vocha vey.
Archer: I'll take that as a thank you.
Hoshi: I don't think they have a word for thank you.
Archer: What did he say?
Hoshi: You don't want to know.


Marauders

Malcolm: And begin.
Miner: Shybol lizards don't move that fast.
Hoshi: Do you mind, Lieutenant?
Malcolm: Uh-uh.
Hoshi: I can see your finger tensing on the trigger before you fire. It's throwing off your aim. I use to make the same mistake. Keep your eye on the target, and don't squeeze the trigger until you have a clear shot. Try again.


Deadstop

Phlox: Ensign. This is not an ideal time.
Hoshi: I wanted to, say good bye.
Phlox: You may find this disturbing.
Hoshi: I've seen a body before, 15 of them on that alien ship.
Phlox: It's different when it's someone you know personally.
Hoshi: I was hoping it was another one of his practical jokes. Travis called me down to decon a few weeks ago. Said that he brought some kind of gelantinous lifeform aboard. He said it might be sentient and that the Captain needed me to figure out how to communicate with it.
Phlox: Hmm. I don't recall that.
Hoshi: It was no lifeform. It was only strawberry gelatine. Told him I was going to get him back. I'm sorry.
Phlox: It might comfort you to know he felt very little pain. An isolitic shock instantly impairs the eh. . .


Minefield

Archer: Archer to Sickbay.
Phlox: Yes, Captain?
Archer: Is Hoshi in any shape to return to the bridge? It's urgent.
Phlox: I'm afraid not. She suffered rather a severe concussion.
Archer: Understood.
Hoshi: Tell them I'm on my way.
Phlox: You'd be of little help in your present condition, Ensign.

Hoshi: They're order us to leave their system immediately or they'll destroy us.
Trip: Charming. Did you figure out a way to compose the message back, explaining, we're going as fast as we can?
Hoshi: I can try.
T'Pol: And their next message?
Hoshi: They say they've annexed this planet in the name of something called the Romoolun Star Empire.
T'Pol: Romulan. It's pronounced Romulan.


Shockwave II

Trip: What's your definition of too tight?
Malcolm: Well, you and I couldn't get through them. Maybe a child or...
Trip: Or Hoshi?
Malcolm: It's possible, but it would be difficult.
Trip: What do you say, Hoshi? You wanna give it a try?
Hoshi: Isn't there some other way I can help out? Something that needs translating? You know how claustrophobic I am.

Phlox: Hoshi?
Hoshi: Good guess.
Phlox: How're you holding up?
Hoshi: Great. If you don't mind, I just like to get this over with.
Phlox: Good luck.

Hoshi: Whatever you're about to say, I don't want to hear it. Just give me a shirt.


Babel One

Sato:The food on this ship isn't fit for animals! That mangy pet of yours would probably taste better. You can either take me home, or find a new chef, it's that simple! Oh, something else: I want new quarters.
Archer: Is that so?
Sato: For one thing, my room is too small! There are plasma conduits running across the ceiling. It's noisy, it keeps me up all night!
Archer: Maybe you'd sleep better in the Cargo Bay.
Sato: What did you say to me?
Archer: This is a starship, not a luxury liner! If you're not satisfied with the accomodations, we can leave you behind in a shuttlepod! Maybe you'll have better luck with whoever picks you up! And if you don't like Chef's food, don't eat it! From the looks of things, you should probably skip the dessert table while you're at it!
Sato: That was a nice touch.
Archer: I can't believe I'm supposed to speak to their ambassador like that.
Sato: Tellarites always have a lithany of complaints. It's how they start arguments with people they've just met.
Archer: Even if they have nothing to complain about?
Sato: In that case, they will just insult you. Whatever they say, you have to respond in kind, otherwise they'll take offence.
Archer: A species that actually thrives on arguing. They probably make good politicians. Thanks for the dry run.
Sato: Sir! I wasn't kidding about Porthos.
Archer: You think he's mangy?
Sato: No. But you might want to keep him out of sight. Tellarites consider canines something of a, um, delicacy.