TV-Series
Description
Shūtarō Mendō, heir to the immense Mendō Zaibatsu conglomerate, possesses extreme wealth from birth on April 1. His family controls 51% of Japan's land, fields a private army, and holds a fortune surpassing 50 billion yen. He proudly displays the family octopus crest, keeps octopuses as pets, and reacts with offense to takoyaki consumption in his presence. As a samurai descendant, he often wields the katana Murasame in anime adaptations.
Transferring to Tomobiki High School in manga Volume 3, he swiftly attracts female admiration for his handsome looks, athletic prowess, and talents. Though outwardly gentlemanly, he exhibits lechery rivaling Ataru Moroboshi, openly declaring "love" for multiple women while treating male classmates with contempt. He harbors a persistent infatuation with Lum, addressing her as "Lum-san," though his feelings go unreturned. This fuels his rivalry with Ataru, whom he deems his greatest enemy despite their shared traits.
Mendō's personality blends narcissism with deep vulnerabilities. He suffers crippling nyctophobia and claustrophobia, shrieking "It's dark, it's cramped, I'm scared!" when confined in dark, enclosed spaces—unless women are present, when vanity suppresses his fears. Ataru frequently traps him under temple bells, triggering frenzied escapes where sheer terror sometimes shatters the bells. Training to overcome his phobias only grants temporary abnormal strength.
His actions span comedy and extremity: he commands his private security force, the Black Glasses Squad, to attack Ataru and Lum's admirers, ordering shootings or bombing runs via diving aircraft. He once exploited Lum's insomnia to kidnap her, though schemes consistently fail due to his retainers' incompetence.
Relationships define him: intense enmity with Ataru stems from class disdain and jealousy over Lum, yet they spend significant time together outside school, hinting at unacknowledged friendship. Shinobu Miyake developed an initial crush post-transfer, leading her to end things with Ataru; Mendō admires her beauty but treats her like other admirers before she moves on. He envies Ryūnosuke Fujinami's larger fan club and popularity with girls, finding her feminine appearance appealing—though her tomboy nature fails to suppress his phobias during confinement, offending her. He maintains distant admiration for the beautiful, mystically gifted school nurse Sakura, though her supernatural encounters unsettle him. His younger sister Ryōko manipulates him through protective instincts and shared animosity toward Ataru, complicating their sibling bond.
The name "Shūtarō Mendō" initially suggested "Trouble Shooter" (combining "Mendō" meaning trouble and "Shooter" from Shuutarō), but chaotic interactions with Ataru repurposed it to mean "Trouble Maker." His family includes parents, a grandfather, and sister Ryōko. Across all media, he remains a privileged yet flawed individual whose wealth and status clash with insecurities, unchecked desires, and psychological vulnerabilities, driving much conflict and humor.
Transferring to Tomobiki High School in manga Volume 3, he swiftly attracts female admiration for his handsome looks, athletic prowess, and talents. Though outwardly gentlemanly, he exhibits lechery rivaling Ataru Moroboshi, openly declaring "love" for multiple women while treating male classmates with contempt. He harbors a persistent infatuation with Lum, addressing her as "Lum-san," though his feelings go unreturned. This fuels his rivalry with Ataru, whom he deems his greatest enemy despite their shared traits.
Mendō's personality blends narcissism with deep vulnerabilities. He suffers crippling nyctophobia and claustrophobia, shrieking "It's dark, it's cramped, I'm scared!" when confined in dark, enclosed spaces—unless women are present, when vanity suppresses his fears. Ataru frequently traps him under temple bells, triggering frenzied escapes where sheer terror sometimes shatters the bells. Training to overcome his phobias only grants temporary abnormal strength.
His actions span comedy and extremity: he commands his private security force, the Black Glasses Squad, to attack Ataru and Lum's admirers, ordering shootings or bombing runs via diving aircraft. He once exploited Lum's insomnia to kidnap her, though schemes consistently fail due to his retainers' incompetence.
Relationships define him: intense enmity with Ataru stems from class disdain and jealousy over Lum, yet they spend significant time together outside school, hinting at unacknowledged friendship. Shinobu Miyake developed an initial crush post-transfer, leading her to end things with Ataru; Mendō admires her beauty but treats her like other admirers before she moves on. He envies Ryūnosuke Fujinami's larger fan club and popularity with girls, finding her feminine appearance appealing—though her tomboy nature fails to suppress his phobias during confinement, offending her. He maintains distant admiration for the beautiful, mystically gifted school nurse Sakura, though her supernatural encounters unsettle him. His younger sister Ryōko manipulates him through protective instincts and shared animosity toward Ataru, complicating their sibling bond.
The name "Shūtarō Mendō" initially suggested "Trouble Shooter" (combining "Mendō" meaning trouble and "Shooter" from Shuutarō), but chaotic interactions with Ataru repurposed it to mean "Trouble Maker." His family includes parents, a grandfather, and sister Ryōko. Across all media, he remains a privileged yet flawed individual whose wealth and status clash with insecurities, unchecked desires, and psychological vulnerabilities, driving much conflict and humor.