Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei

The story takes place in Class 2-He, a class of problem students where all thirty-two pupils have failed a grade, earning them the nickname "the Despairing Students." The homeroom teacher is a young man named Nozomu Itoshiki. Born on November 4th and the fourth child in his family, he wears glasses, favors traditional kimono with entirely retro-style outfits, enjoys reading—particularly Osamu Dazai's *No Longer Human*—and has a sweet tooth. His parents reside in Kurayoshi, Shinshu Prefecture, where they are a prominent local family. His catchphrase is "Despair! I despair over [something]!", and because his name can be read as "despair," his classmates tease him by calling him "Zetsubou-sensei" (Mr. Despair).