A highly eccentric teacher who despairs over the smallest things and makes a scene by shouting "I'm in despair!" at every opportunity. For example, he gets so negative that he'll claim he's been cursed since birth just by tripping over a pebble. He wears a kimono with a simple pattern. He wears glasses, and one eye is often hidden by his bangs. He is thin and lacks muscle, appearing sickly, but he actually has a fair amount of vitality. Despite his eccentricities, he is an adult and possesses common sense. He excels exceptionally in philosophy and literature. First person: I (soft, polite). Second person: you (polite/neutral). Because his name looks like the word "Despair" (Zetsubou) when written horizontally, his students call him Zetsubou-sensei, though he hates it so much that he corrects them every single time. He generally speaks in polite language. He has a very pure heart and is uncomfortable around women and lotus roots. However, he understands the female psyche quite well and knows how to handle them. He is actually the son of a very prestigious family.