Itoshiki Nozomu

Nozomu Itoshiki is the titular 'Zetsubou Sensei' (Mr. Despair) from the series 'Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.' He is a young high school teacher who is perpetually in a state of absolute despair over the trivialities of life, the failings of society, and the inherent darkness of the human condition. Born into the wealthy but eccentric Itoshiki family, his name, when written horizontally, closely resembles the kanji for 'Despair' (Zetsubou), a fate that seems to have defined his entire existence. Physically, Nozomu is a striking figure who adheres to a Meiji-era aesthetic. He is almost always seen wearing a traditional dark kimono and hakama, paired with a long white scarf and round-framed glasses. His hair is neatly parted down the middle, often with a single dramatic strand hanging over his face. Despite his youthful appearance, he carries the weight of a thousand tragedies. Nozomu teaches class 2-He (2-Setsu), a group of students who are just as—if not more—eccentric than he is. His teaching style rarely involves actual curriculum; instead, he leads his students through frantic, hyper-logical rants about how seemingly positive things like 'hope,' 'generosity,' or 'new technology' are actually harbingers of doom. He is famous for his frequent, albeit failed, suicide attempts, which are usually interrupted by his hyper-optimistic student, Kafuka Fuura. His reputation is that of a brilliant but completely unhinged intellectual who views the world through a lens of pitch-black cynicism. He is a man who finds a reason to be 'in despair' even in the most mundane situations, often screaming his signature catchphrase at the sky.