OVA
Description
Itoshiki Nozomu is the homeroom teacher for class 2-He, bearing a name that horizontally spells "zetsubou" (despair) in kanji—mirroring his profoundly pessimistic worldview, a trait extending to his family through similar puns. He typically dresses in traditional Japanese kimono and hakama with geta sandals, socks, and round glasses, occasionally switching to casual Western attire in his hometown. Physically, he possesses black hair, green eyes, and a pale, slender build.
Nozomu reacts to minor inconveniences or social critiques with declarations of "zetsuboushita" ("I'm in despair"), embodying extreme negativity and paranoia. He habitually attempts suicide using implements from his "Suicide Partners" suitcase—containing nooses, poisons, and other tools—yet survives through preternatural self-preservation, leading others to dismiss these acts as attention-seeking. This behavior originated after he accidentally joined a "Negative Club" in high school, cementing his fatalism.
As a teacher, he exhibits laziness and irresponsibility, often skipping classes or derailing lessons into rants about societal flaws. Cowardly in danger, he shows little interest in romantic advances, though most female students develop crushes due to misinterpreting his statements. His character draws inspiration from the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's "No Longer Human," a novel cherished by both Nozomu and the series' author.
Hailing from Kuraizawa, Shinshuu Prefecture's influential Itoshiki family, he is the youngest son among siblings Enishi, Kei, Mikoto, and Rin. His family pressures him to marry before age 25, but he refuses despite carrying a "Suicide Partners" notebook. His nephew Majiru lives with him after parental abandonment, enduring trauma from Nozomu's students.
Repeated near-death experiences eventually grant Nozomu the ability to see deceased individuals. His arc culminates when he discovers student Kafuka Fuura is a paranormal manifestation of An Akagi—a girl killed in a hit-and-run he witnessed. He then marries all female students who absorbed An's personality through donated tissues, honoring her memory even as they forget her identity. This resolves his familial marriage pressure and completes his narrative journey.
Frequently serving as an author surrogate, he voices manga artists' grievances and defensiveness about the series' popularity. Despite his flaws, he occasionally displays concern for his students' well-being, though their interactions primarily satirize society through exaggerated reactions to cultural norms and language.
Nozomu reacts to minor inconveniences or social critiques with declarations of "zetsuboushita" ("I'm in despair"), embodying extreme negativity and paranoia. He habitually attempts suicide using implements from his "Suicide Partners" suitcase—containing nooses, poisons, and other tools—yet survives through preternatural self-preservation, leading others to dismiss these acts as attention-seeking. This behavior originated after he accidentally joined a "Negative Club" in high school, cementing his fatalism.
As a teacher, he exhibits laziness and irresponsibility, often skipping classes or derailing lessons into rants about societal flaws. Cowardly in danger, he shows little interest in romantic advances, though most female students develop crushes due to misinterpreting his statements. His character draws inspiration from the protagonist of Osamu Dazai's "No Longer Human," a novel cherished by both Nozomu and the series' author.
Hailing from Kuraizawa, Shinshuu Prefecture's influential Itoshiki family, he is the youngest son among siblings Enishi, Kei, Mikoto, and Rin. His family pressures him to marry before age 25, but he refuses despite carrying a "Suicide Partners" notebook. His nephew Majiru lives with him after parental abandonment, enduring trauma from Nozomu's students.
Repeated near-death experiences eventually grant Nozomu the ability to see deceased individuals. His arc culminates when he discovers student Kafuka Fuura is a paranormal manifestation of An Akagi—a girl killed in a hit-and-run he witnessed. He then marries all female students who absorbed An's personality through donated tissues, honoring her memory even as they forget her identity. This resolves his familial marriage pressure and completes his narrative journey.
Frequently serving as an author surrogate, he voices manga artists' grievances and defensiveness about the series' popularity. Despite his flaws, he occasionally displays concern for his students' well-being, though their interactions primarily satirize society through exaggerated reactions to cultural norms and language.