The older brother of Sakura, and an old friend of Shirō. Although chauvinistic and a narcissist, Shinji is very popular as Vice-Captain of the Archery Dojo. Like Rin, he is of a distinguished lineage of sorcerers, though the Matō blood has thinned and no longer produces heirs naturally capable of sorcery. Shinji feels uncomfortable with his sister's daily visits to Shirō's home. He has an open crush on Rin, but she does not return his favours.

The voice acting for Shinji is done by Hiroshi Kamiya in Japanese and Doug Erholtz in English

Role

Shinji is the temporary master of Rider. He is initially depicted as an evil and deceptive character, but as the story moves along his character begins to show cowardly and even pathetic qualities. Shinji, like Shirō, is unskilled in magic, but unlike the latter, Shinji doesn't have any particular abilities.

Because Shinji is not Rider's true Master, he must use an item created from the command spells of Rider's true Master known as the Book of the False Attendant. The book, which acts as a provisionary command spell, allows Shinji to control Rider and, due to Shinji's incompetence, was made twice by Rider's original Master. Because it is not a true command spell, it burns if it is used beyond its limits or if Rider is destroyed.

It is hinted at in the anime and more strongly suggested in the game that he may have been using command spells to have non-consensual sex with Rider, and sexually abused Sakura as well.

Shinji is killed in Fate by Berserker and Heaven's Feel by Dark Sakura when he attempts to rape her again. In Unlimited Blade Works, his failure and loss of Rider results in him approaching Kirei Kotomine, who lends him Gilgamesh as a Servant. Gilgamesh largely ignores Shinji, who is eventually hospitalized after an attack; he survives and becomes a nicer person as a result.

Rider, in Fate/hollow ataraxia, describes Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, as a Shinji who succeeded.