History Characters / SayonaraZetsubouSensei

* FascinatingEyebrows

!!Tane Kitsu

* WhenItAllBegan: When they were children, Chiri wants to clean their pet goldfish by pouring ''shampoo'' all over the fishbowl. The sensible Tane knows she may kill their pet, but Chiri wouldn't care, so she leaps into a pile of mud, distracting Chiri. She has since maintained her incredibly messy appearance.

* EmotionlessGirl: Except whenever talking about animal tails or [[spoiler:alone together with Nozomu]].

* MeaningfulName: Her name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as 絶倫--"zetsurin" ("peerless"), which at first glance refers to her expertise at many skills, but is also (much to her ire) a slang for sexual prowess. In fact, she's so desperate to get married away from the Itoshikis so as to lose the unfortunate connotations of her maiden name.

* NamesToKnowInAnime: Takuma Terashima (Apollo of TheGenesisOfAquarion)

!!Chie Arai

!!Jinroku

* HiddenDepths: He likes the Visual Kei band "Nightmare".

* {{Yakuza}}: One episode in ''Zoku'' reveals he has a large Yakuza tattoo on his back.

!!Ikkyu

* '''Ikkyu''', Nozomu's "old friend", actually a "one day friend" (visually similar: 旧友 vs. 1日友); [[DropInCharacter appears every now and then]] and might be an even bigger ham than Itoshiki himself. Has a FascinatingEyebrow and is one of the few people (besides Chiri) who can do a perfect half-smile. Voiced by TomokazuSugita (making the voice-switching gag in ''Zoku'' incredibly hilarious).

!!Mikoto Itoshiki

* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsumei" ("death")--not a good name for someone of his profession, especially if nicknamed [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Zetsumei-sensei" ("Dr. Death")]].

!!Kei Itoshiki

* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zekkei" ("superb scenery"), although his works are not as superb as they are [[{{Understatement}} utterly]] weird.

!!Majiru Itoshiki
Only son of Enishi Itoshiki, (missing) eldest son of the Itoshiki siblings, who lives with his youngest uncle, Nozomu.
* AkikoYajima
* BreakTheCutie: PlayedForLaughs--he is very easily traumatized by Nozomu's students' antics.
* CakeEater: Hinted at, with his relationship to Kiri Komori, one of Nozomu's students and caretaker for both uncle and nephew.
* CuteShotaroBoy
* LimitedWardrobe: Just like his uncle, he frequently wears a kimono and hakama.
* TheLinus: Comes across as more mature and down-to-earth than his uncle, but can also act in a way fitting his age. There's also some situations that might be either this or PingpongNaivete, like having a crush on a net idol and commenting on her breasts, while also thinking that [[DeliveryStork storks deliver babies]].
* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zekkou" ("breach in a relationship"), hinting to his broken family and having to stay with his youngest uncle.
* {{Megane}}
* MouthyKid: Has some shades of this.
* {{Nephewism}}
* ParentalAbandonment: Which explains why he has to live with Nozomu.
* [[PrettyFreeloaders Pretty Freeloader]]: A rare male variant, to his uncle Nozomu.
* Tsurime

!!Enishi Itoshiki

* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, becomes "zetsuen" ("disinherited").

!!Nozomu Itoshiki

* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsubou" ("despair"), befitting his nature.

!!Kafuka Fuura

!!Chiri Kitsu

* MeaningfulName: ''Four'' alternate readings, to be exact--her full name (in Japanese order) can be read as "kicchiri" ("precise"), referring to her SuperOCD; her given name can be compressed to read as "umeru" ("to bury"), which explains her [[ShovelStrike spade]], or used as the first two kanji for "senrigan" ("clairvoyance"), explaining her ThirdEye; finally, her given name can be an onomatopeia, "chirichiri" ("frizzy"), as her hair is actually frizzy, and has to frequently iron it out to give it a perfectly straight look.

!!Abiru Kobushi

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "kobushi (wo) abiru" ("to bathe in fists"), referring to her injuries.

!!Kiri Komori

* MeaningfulName: Her name in Japanese order can be read as "komorikiri" ("recluse") and, in Western order, even sounds like "hikikomori".

* NamesToKnowInAnime: Asuka Tanii (Noah of [[GalaxyAngel Galaxy Angel II]]); she also voices [[FaceOfAThug Mayo Mitama]]

!!Matoi Tsunetsuki

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "tsune (ni) tsukimatoi" ("always dangling after").

!!Nami Hito

--->"Sensei, you're speaking too much again!"

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "hitonami" ("run-of-the-mill").

!!Harumi Fujiyoshi

* MeaningfulName: Her given name is the previous site of the Comiket before it went large and moved to the larger Tokyo Big Sight; her surname is a corruption of "fujoshi", a derogatory term for [[YaoiFangirl Yaoi Fangirls]].

!!Taro Maria Sekiutsu

* AmbiguouslyBrown

* MeaningfulName: "Taro Sekiutsu" ("Maria" is her given name), a name she bought from a guy willing to sell everything connected to him, can be read as "seki-uttaro" ("I'll sell my register").

!!Meru Otonashi

* BlackSpeech: Whenever she's caught in a spot with no signal reception.
* ChiwaSaitou: In the FreakyThursday episode of ''Zoku''.
* CuteMute: Except one can only see her [[{{Troll}} fouler side through text messages]].
* MeaningfulName: Her given name is a loan word for "mail", and her surname means "soundless". In addition, her email address "hazukashigariyasan" means "full of shyness".

!!Kaere Kimura

* BerserkButton: Played straight and inverted at the same time with the word "kaeru" ("go away"). When used at Kaere, it turns her into Kaede; used at Kaede, it is the other way around.

--->"The (''custom in question'') in this country [i.e. Japan] is/are weird! In the country where I came from [...whatever it is] we (''perform an extremely bizarre custom'')."

* HairColors: Kaere is the only one with a different hair color from both her classmates and teacher's black--in her case, blonde, which is still part of the natural hair color spectrum, justified by her foreign blood.

* MeaningfulName: "Kaere" is a corruption of the word "kaeru" ("go away"), which is also her block-word to switch personalities; she is [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous also named after idol Kaela Kimura]].

!!Ai Kaga

-->"I'm sorry!"

* MeaningfulName: In Japanese order her name can be read as "kagai" ("perpetrator").
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Besides the MeaningfulName aspect, her name is a pun on that of IdolSinger Ai Kago.
* NamestoKnowInAnime: Saori Goto (Barasuishou of RozenMaiden)

!!Manami Okusa

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "okusama-nami" ("she is a housewife").
* ShoutOut: KikukoInoue appears in one segment of ''Zoku'', complete with her trademark "I'm eternally 17!" quip.

!!Mayo Mitama

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "mita mama yo" ("[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin exactly as one looks]]").
* NamesToKnowInAnime: Asuka Tanii

-->'''Mayo''': "When I like somebody... I always wanna do mean things to them."

!!Kanako Oura

* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "ouraka na ko" ("big-hearted girl").

!!Shouko Maruichi

* MeaningfulName: Her name is a pun on "maruchi-shouho" ("multi-level marketing").

!!Miko Nezu

* HighSchoolHustler: She sells common complimentary items (e.g. a block of ice) for exorbiant prices.
* MeaningfulName: Her name can be read as "nezumi-kou" ("pyramid scheme").

!!Kotonon

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: KotonoMitsuishi--her twin pigtails-buns even emulate SailorMoon, Mitsuishi's StarMakingRole.

!!Marui

!!Kagero Usui

* MeaningfulName: His name is a pun on "kage ga usui" ("overshadowed"), while his surname also means "balding".

!!Jun Kudo

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: The Junkudo-Shoten bookstore chain, to be exact.

!!Kuniya Kino

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Books Kinokuniya, Japan's largest bookstore chain.

!!Aoyama and Haga
Kino's friends.
* [[RummageSaleReject Rummage Sale Rejects]]: Just like Kino.
* TakahiroMizushima (Haga)
* ThoseTwoGuys
* TomokazuSugita (Aoyama)

* '''Chie Arai''', the student counsellor. Her names can be read together as ''"Niichie"'' (i.e. "[[FriedrichNietzsche Nietzsche]]") [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic for an unexplained reason]]. Functions as a MsFanservice for the first season. Is hinted to have a lesbian relationship with Kiri Komori, and in several episodes is shown to have an affinity for sexual sadism.
* '''Jinroku''', a quiet, friendly male teacher in the school. Has a large {{Yakuza}} tattoo on his back, hinting to a dark background. [[HiddenDepths Likes the Visual Kei band Nightmare]].
* '''Ikkyu''', Nozomu's "old friend", actually a "one day friend" (visually similar: 旧友 vs. 1日友); [[DropInCharacter appears every now and then]] and might be an even bigger ham than Itoshiki himself. Has a FascinatingEyebrow and is one of the few people (besides Chiri) who can do a perfect half-smile. Voiced by TomokazuSugita (making the voice-switching gag in ''Zoku'' incredibly hilarious).

The show also features a vast cast of recurring background characters, most of whom are completely nuts in some way.

!!Rin Itoshiki
Youngest of the Itoshiki siblings (and the only sister), an ikebana master who eventually becomes a student to her immediate older brother Nozomu.

* BerserkButton: Spell out her MeaningfulName and she will ask for a katana in no time.
* HimeCut: With a slightly wavy hair from below the shoulders onward.
* MeaningfulName: Her name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsurin" ("peerless"), which at first glance refers to her expertise at many skills, but is also (much to her ire) a slang for sexual prowess.
* TheOjou
* PaleSkinnedBrunette
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: One segment has her buying the entire neighborhood she lives in, so she can move around without fear of Chiri checking on her every hour.
* SpoiledSweet / RichBitch: Kind of an odd combination. Rin will often do generous things for the purpose of laughing at people. For instance, giving [[CharlieAndTheChocolateParody golden tickets]] to [[NerdsAreVirgins nerdy, virgin guys]] who didn't have girlfriends giving them chocolate.
* [[ActorAllusion Seiyuu Allusion]]: In the anime she frequently faces the audience backside-up, a ShoutOut to [[CrayonShinChan Shin-chan's]] ass-exposing antics--both were voiced by AkikoYajima.

--> "I'm in despair!(''Subject of Nozomu's rant'') has left me in despair!!!"

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Her (pen) name sounds similar to FranzKafka. Also, fans speculate her real name, based on several hints throughout the series, to be An Akagi, referring to ''AnneOfGreenGables'', whose

* NamesToKnowInAnime: Asuka Tanii

* DoRightWrong: Almost a personal philosophy. Chiri will often seem annoyed by something only for it to turn out that she was only annyed by it not being done "properly".

!!Rin Itoshiki
Youngest of the Itoshiki siblings (and the only sister), an ikebana master who eventually becomes a student to her immediate older brother Nozomu.
* AkikoYajima
* BerserkButton: Spell out her MeaningfulName and she will ask for a katana in no time.
* HimeCut: With a slightly wavy hair from below the shoulders onward.
* MeaningfulName: Her name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsurin" ("peerless"), which at first glance refers to her expertise at many skills, but is also (much to her ire) a slang for sexual prowess.
* TheOjou
* PaleSkinnedBrunette
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: One segment has her buying the entire neighborhood she lives in, so she can move around without fear of Chiri checking on her every hour.
* SpoiledSweet / RichBitch: Kind of an odd combination. Rin will often do generous things for the purpose of laughing at people. For instance, giving [[CharlieAndTheChocolateParody golden tickets]] to [[NerdsAreVirgins nerdy, virgin guys]] who didn't have girlfriends giving them chocolate.
* [[ActorAllusion Seiyuu Allusion]]: In the anime she frequently faces the audience backside-up, a ShoutOut to [[CrayonShinChan Shin-chan's]] ass-exposing antics--both were voiced by AkikoYajima.

!!Mikoto Itoshiki
Third of the Itoshiki siblings (older brother to both Nozomu and Rin) and a doctor running his own private clinic.
* {{Bishonen}}
* {{Headdesk}}: Wallbanger variant--his head repeatedly meets the wall every time his nickname "Dr. Death" gets mentioned.
* HiroshiKamiya
* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsumei" ("death")--not a good name for someone of his profession, especially if nicknamed [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "Zetsumei-sensei" ("Dr. Death")]].
* PaleSkinnedBrunette

!!Kei Itoshiki
Second of the Itoshiki siblings (older brother to Mikoto, Nozomu and Rin) and a surrealist artist.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: He is even married to ''the stain on the wall of his house'', for God's sake!
* MadArtist: Sort of.
* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zekkei" ("superb scenery"), although his works are not as superb as they are [[{{Understatement}} utterly]] weird.
* PermaStubble
* TakehitoKoyasu
* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible

!!Majiru Itoshiki
Only son of Enishi Itoshiki, (missing) eldest son of the Itoshiki siblings, who lives with his youngest uncle, Nozomu.
* AkikoYajima
* BreakTheCutie: PlayedForLaughs--he is very easily traumatized by Nozomu's students' antics.
* CakeEater: Hinted at, with his relationship to Kiri Komori, one of Nozomu's students and caretaker for both uncle and nephew.
* CuteShotaroBoy
* LimitedWardrobe: Just like his uncle, he frequently wears a kimono and hakama.
* TheLinus: Comes across as more mature and down-to-earth than his uncle, but can also act in a way fitting his age. There's also some situations that might be either this or PingpongNaivete, like having a crush on a net idol and commenting on her breasts, while also thinking that [[DeliveryStork storks deliver babies]].
* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zekkou" ("breach in a relationship"), hinting to his broken family and having to stay with his youngest uncle.
* {{Megane}}
* MouthyKid: Has some shades of this.
* {{Nephewism}}
* ParentalAbandonment: Which explains why he has to live with Nozomu.
* [[PrettyFreeloaders Pretty Freeloader]]: A rare male variant, to his uncle Nozomu.
* Tsurime

!!Enishi Itoshiki
The unseen older brother of Kei, Mikoto, Nozomu and Rin Itoshiki.
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen
* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, becomes "zetsuen" ("disinherited").
* [[MissingMom Missing Dad]]

* {{CloudCuckoolander}}

* SpoonyBard

* IgnoredRivalry: Calls Jun his rival. The latter doesn't mind.

* {{Gonk}}
* NetIdol

* IgnoredRival: Calls Jun his rival. The latter doesn't mind.

-->"Don't open."

* HotForStudent: Once to Chie, recently to Nozomu.

* TakahiroMizushima

* TearJerker: The nature of his stories, apparently. [[InformedAbility Except we only get to hear the beginning and/or end of his stories, and the reaction from his listeners.]]

A net idol from Nozomu's class.

* InternetIdol

* '''Marui''', a minor character. Member of the tea ceremony club at school. Has a crush on Kino, but is in despair for his fashion sense outside the school. Her name, 'Circular', refers to her hairstyle.
* '''Kagero Usui''', the class president. Suffers from male pattern baldness. Has his hair in a comb-over, but is he unnoticeable to the point of being functionally invisible to other characters unless his bald spot is showing. A CovertPervert, also has a crush on Abiru. His name comes from both "Overshadowed" and "Thinning hairline". He probably counts as the ButtMonkey of the cast, presented as a perverted loser who is either not noticed by the rest of the cast or treated with contempt.
* '''Jun Kudo''', master storyteller, can improvise a deeply heartfelt story on any topic ([[InformedAbility but we only usually hear the end or beginning and reactions to these stories]]). Name comes from a chain of book stores.
* '''Kuniya Kino''', originally intended as the Rival to Jun, but ended up as a side character, most notable for his horrible sense of fashion when not in school uniform. Name comes from another chain of book stores.
* '''Aoyama''' and '''Haga''', Kino's friends. Share his horrible sense of fashion.
* '''The Person Formerly Known as Taro Sekiutsu''', a male student previously from the class, who sold his name and register to Maria. Lives as a homeless on the streets, sitting in a cardboard box and [[LampshadeWearing wearing a lampshade as a mask]]. Much like Kiri, has the tendency to pop up in bizarre and improbable locations.

* SaoriGotou

* [[PlayingAsHimself Seiyuu As Herself]]: KikukoInoue appears in one segment of ''Zoku'', complete with her trademark "I'm eternally 17!" quip.

* RapeAsComedy

* WeaponOfCoice: [[BatterUp A baseball bat]].

* '''Kotonon''', an Internet Idol who posts heavily photoshopped pictures of herself in ElegantGothicLolita clothes. Overweight. Name is a reference to voice actress Kotono Mitshuishi.

* SaoriGoto

* [[ActorAsHimself Seiyuu As Herself]]: KikukoInoue appears in one segment of ''Zoku'', complete with her trademark "I'm eternally 17!" quip.

* BoomerangBigot

* ChiwaSaito: In the FreakyThursday episode of ''Zoku''.

* LonelyRichKid
* OverprotectiveDad

* '''Ai Kaga''', a shy girl with a GuiltComplex. After she starts fearing helping other people will leave them owing her a favour (thus being inconvenienced) she makes a point to explain that she doesn't want anything in return and blushing, which makes the boys in the class mistake her for a {{Tsundere}} and develop a massive crushes on her. Her name sounds like "Perpetrate". Has a short ponytail that tends to [[ExpressiveHair waggle when distressed]].
* '''Manami Okusa''', married and working multiple jobs while still a high school student. Name means "A married person". Kind of TheWoobie in that her husband cheats on and mooches off of her. Voiced By KikukoInoue
* '''Mayo Mitama''', an evil girl who also looks evil. Of course, no-one wants to admit prejudice, so they blame someone else than the girl who just looks evil (even if she is obviously guilty). Her name comes from "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Exactly the way she looks]]".

* TheFoil: To the incredibly negative Nozomu.

* EveryoneOwnsAMac: She's a patron of Apple products. [[TruthInTelevision Apple products are very rare in Japan]], so this is Nami's (ultimately futile) attempt at looking special.

* '''Kaere Kimura''', a tall, busty blonde return student from an unspecified foreign country (first hinted to be [[{{Eagleland}} America]] or Britain, but when she starts talking about the traditions of the old country, all speculation flies out of the window). Has a SplitPersonality between [[FrivolousLawsuit lawsuit-happy]] JerkAss EvilForeigner Kaere and YamatoNadeshiko Kaede. Wears a more western school uniform with a plaid skirt, which [[PantyShot is prone to fly upwards at slightest provocation, revealing her underwear]]. Her name sounds like "Go back", which also is her reverse BerserkButton, turning Kaere into Kaede, or vice-versa. Very likely to be a {{Fauxreigner}}.

* Tsurime

* Cloudcuckoolander: He is even married to ''the stain on the wall of his house'', for God's sake!

* NamedAfterSomeoneFamous: Her (pen) name sounds similar to FranzKafka. Also, fans speculate her real name, based on several hints throughout the series, to be An Akagi, referring to ''AnneOfGreenGables'', whose

* ShotgunMarriage: Insists on this to Nozomu after accidentally sleeping together in a clinic bed (though it is Chiri herself who rolls through the curtains into Nozomu's side).

* Meaningful Name: Her name can be read as "kobushi (wo) abiru" ("to bathe in fists"), referring to her injuries.

* '''Taro Maria Sekiutsu''', which isn't her real full name. Maria is an illegal immigrant from an unspecified third world country, who bought the identity of a student from Nozomu's class, the original parts of the name spelling out "You sold your register, didn't you". [[{{MamaBear}} Evokes a strong protection instinct in the other students]]. (Mis-)interprets any and all aspects of her adopted home's culture, usually in the most positive light, which gives her some affinity with Kafuka. Wearing shoes, socks, and/or underwear gives her nausea and vertigo, so she doesn't. For some reason, the Del Rey translation wrote her last name as 'Sekiuchi'.
** It is commonly believed by fans that her nationality is most likely ''Filipino'' considering her brown skin color, hispanicized real name, illegal immigrant status, and war-torn past, and the historical relationship/geographical promiximity between the Philippines and Japan.
* '''Meru Otonashi''', a very short, {{Pettanko}} CuteMute and LonelyRichKid who only communicates via text messages, her name coming from "(to e-)mail", which is also the UnsoundEffect of her typing. [[{{Troll}} Her messages aren't all that nice]]. [[BlackSpeech It's not as bad as when she's caught without her phone, however]]. Aside from her insecurity about her voice (which led her to stop speaking), she is very insecure about her flat chest. Her rich father does anything she wants, but doesn't really understand her needs.

!!Characters:

!!NozomuItoshiki

* MeaningfulName: His name, written horizontally and compressed, can be read as "zetsumei" ("death")--not a good name for someone of his profession, especially if nicknamed [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "zetsumei-sensei" ("Dr. Death")]].

* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: Her father once tried to commit suicide several times before, and her mother was once possessed by an evil spirit.

* MeaningfulName: ''Four'' alternate readings, to be exact--her full name (in Japanese order) can be read as "kicchiri" ("precise"), referring to her SuperOCD; the

* VictoriasSecretCompartment: Her bra (which is a few cups too large for her actual bust size) serves as this, concealing her throwing knives.

* '''Abiru Kobushi''', BandageBabe. Suspected victim of domestic violence; in actuality, works at a zoo and gets into a lot of accidents due to her obsession with pulling animals' tails. Name is derived from "To bathe in fists". She has MismatchedEyes, although this isn't obvious as one eye is usually hidden by a bandage. Voiced By YukoGoto
* '''Kiri Komori''', a {{hikikomori}} (which is also the root of her name). Forced to leave her home early in the series by Nozomu and Kafuka, she now hides inside the school, or [[RunningGag whichever convenient space]] [[RuleOfFunny she can fit in]], [[FanService where she is usually discovered semi-clad]]. Later on in the show, shown to live at Nozomu's house, cooking his meals without him realising it, and taking on a YamatoNadeshiko characterization. Is {{Shotacon}} for Majiru, but was also shown once having a relationship with [[HotForStudent Chie Arai]]. And has a bit of a crush on Nozomu.
* '''Matoi Tsunetsuki''', a girl with a habit of stalking boys she falls in love with, changing her style and hobbies to match them (including rocker and CosplayOtakuGirl in the past). After falling in love with Nozomu, she stalks him for the rest of the series; she has also been dressing in a kimono since then and acting like a parody of the [[YamatoNadeshiko traditional Japanese housewife]] in relation to him. Name is a pun of "Always dangling after". [[UnsoundEffect Audibly gazes at Nozomu at all times]].
* '''Nami Hito''', whose only gimmick was truancy before she decided to start attending school, leaving her perfectly normal. [[IJustWantToBeSpecial And she does]] ''[[IJustWantToBeSpecial not]]'' [[IJustWantToBeSpecial want to be]]. Name can be changed into "run-of-the-mill".
* '''Harumi Fujiyoshi''', a {{Meganekko}} YaoiFangirl {{Doujinshi}} artist with an affinity for [[CatGirl cat ears]]. Athletic and knowledgeable of many sports, but with no interest in joining any of the school athletic clubs. Harumi Fujiyoshi is a reference to "fujoshi", a derogatory term for "Yaoi Fangirl", while Harumi was the previous site of Comiket before it moved to Tokyo Big Sight.

* '''Nozomu Itoshiki''' The manic-depressive and paranoid teacher of the class. [[{{Bishonen}} A pretty good looking]] PaleSkinnedBrunette. Attempts suicide OnceAnEpisode, for increasingly weird reasons. CatchPhrase is "_____ has left me in Despair!". [[ChickMagnet Some way or another, the majority of his students have fallen in love with him]]. [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Including his male students]]. When written vertically, his name has an unlucky amount of strokes, but when written horizontally, spells out "Despair".
** His family, all of whom have the CatchPhrase of "[don't] write it horizontally" or "cram [the characters] together" when someone (generally Kafuka) invokes their UnfortunateNames [[hottip:* : although their reactions differ- Nozomu get in despair, Mikoto bangs his head against the wall for several minutes, Rin threatens people with a katana, and Majiru just gets mildly annoyed. Kei doesn't have any reaction, as his horizontal name is complimentary, although inaccurate- his art is so incomprehensible that it doesn't have any scenery, superb or otherwise]] [[hottip:kanji note:The surname Itoshiki, when written horizontally and then squished together, looks identical to a single kanji that either means "absolute" or "terminal". ''All'' the Itoshikis' given names follow this like of joke which would certainly LostInTranslation.]]:
** '''Rin Itoshiki''', his spoiled and somewhat mischievous 17-year-old sister. Sharing the family curse of unfortunate names, hers spells out "Peerless" (in bed).
** '''Mikoto Itoshiki''', his near identical brother. Works as a doctor. Unfortunately, his name spells "Death" (i.e., "Dr. Death").
** '''Kei Itoshiki''', second brother, a surrealist painter whose name spells "Superb Scenery." Married to Yuuka, the stain on his wall.
** '''Majiru Itoshiki''', the son of '''Enishi Itoshiki''', Nozomu's unseen brother ("Disinherited" hinting to his fate). Majiru moves in with Nozomu in one episode, first mistaken for his son. A CuteShotaroBoy. His name spells out "Breach in relationship."
** '''Hiroshi Itoshiki''', ("Great") father; and '''Tae Itoshiki''' ("Exquisite"), mother.
** '''Tokita''', family butler, who also manages the regular game of trying to force Nozomu marry someone. Called [[MyNameIsNotDurwood Sebastian]] by the students.
* '''Kafuka Fuura''', the [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant creepily]] [[ThePollyanna optimistic]] schoolgirl. "Kafuka Fuura" is a pen name that may refer to Franz Kafka; her real name is [[{{Fanon}} speculated]] to be An Akagi, a reference to ''AnneOfGreenGables'' (where the series' Japanese name is ''Akage no An'', "Redheaded Anne"). Hinted to [[{{Yandere}} have a dark side]].
* '''Chiri Kitsu''', an [[SuperOCD obsessive compulsive easily irritated by irregularity]]. Hair parted perfectly at the middle. Name can refer to "Precisely", "To bury" (referring to her being a [[strike:suspected]] SerialKiller with a [[ShovelStrike shovel]] as her WeaponOfChoice), "Clairvoyance" (she has a secret, all-seeing third eye), or her hair is naturally chirichiri (Japanese for frizzy). Voiced By MarinaInoue

** His family, all of whom have the CatchPhrase of "[don't] write it horizontally" or "cram [the characters] together" when someone (generally Kafuka) invokes their UnfortunateNames [[hottip:* : although their reactions differ- Nozomu get in despair, Mikoto bangs his head against the wall for several minutes, Rin threatens people with a katana, and Majiru just gets mildly annoyed]] [[hottip:kanji note:The surname Itoshiki, when written horizontally and then squished together, looks identical to a single kanji that either means "absolute" or "terminal". ''All'' the Itoshikis' given names follow this like of joke which would certainly LostInTranslation.]]:

* '''Ai Kaga''', a shy girl with a guilt complex. After she starts fearing helping other people will leave them owing her a favour (thus being inconvenienced) she makes a point to explain that she doesn't want anything in return and blushing, which makes the boys in the class mistake her for a {{Tsundere}} and develop a massive crushes on her. Her name sounds like "Perpetrate". Has a short ponytail that tends to [[ExpressiveHair waggle when distressed]].

* '''Chie Arai''', the student counsellor. Her names can be read together as ''"Niichie"'' (i.e. "[[FriedrichNietzsche Nietzsche]]") [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic for an unexplained reason]]. Functions as a MsFanservice for the first season. Is hinted to have a lesbian relationship with Kiri Komori, and in one episode is shown to have an affinity for sexual sadism.

* '''Nami Hito''', perfectly normal. [[IJustWantToBeSpecial And she does]] ''[[IJustWantToBeSpecial not]]'' [[IJustWantToBeSpecial want to be]]. Name can be changed into "run-of-the-mill".

* '''Kaere Kimura''', a tall, busty blonde return student from an unspecified foreign country (first hinted to be [[{{Eagleland}} America]] or Britain, but when she starts talking about the traditions of the old country, all speculation flies out of the window). Has a split personality between [[FrivolousLawsuit lawsuit-happy]] JerkAss EvilForeigner Kaere and YamatoNadeshiko Kaede. Wears a more western school uniform with a plaid skirt, which [[PantyShot is prone to fly upwards at slightest provocation, revealing her underwear]]. Her name sounds like "Go back", which also is her reverse BerserkButton, turning Kaere into Kaede, or vice-versa. Very likely to be a {{Fauxreigner}}.

* '''Abiru Kobushi''', BandageBabe. Suspected victim of domestic violence; in actuality, works at a zoo and gets into a lot of accidents due to her obsession with pulling animals' tails. Name is derived from "To bathe in fists". She has BoatLights, although this isn't obvious as one eye is usually hidden by a bandage. Voiced By YukoGoto

** His family, all of whom have the CatchPhrase of "[don't] write it horizontally" or "cram [the characters] together" when someone (generally Kafuka) invokes their UnfortunateNames [[hottip:* : although their reactions differ- Nozomu get in despair, Mikoto bangs his head against the wall for several minutes, Rin threatens people with a katana, and Majiru just gets mildly annoyed]]:

* '''Chiri Kitsu''', an [[SuperOCD obsessive compulsive easily irritated by irregularity]]. Hair parted perfectly at the middle. Name can refer to "Precisely", [[ShovelStrike "To bury"]] (referring to her being a [[strike:suspected]] SerialKiller with a [[VisualPun shovel]] as her WeaponOfChoice), "Clairvoyance" (she has a secret, all-seeing third eye), or her hair is naturally chirichiri (Japanese for frizzy). Voiced By MarinaInoue

[[caption-width-right:400:[[TheIllegal Maria]], [[YaoiFangirl Harumi]], [[PhenotypeStereotype Kaere]], [[SuperOCD Chiri]], [[ThePollyanna Kafuka]], [[TheEeyore Nozomu]], [[StalkerWithACrush Matoi ]](behind him), [[ShutIn Kiri]] (crouching), [[BandageBabe Abiru]], [[CuteMute Meru]] and [[TheGenericGuy Nami]].]]

* '''Marui''', a minor character. Member of the tea ceremony club at school. Has a crush on Kino, but is in despair for his fashion sense outside the school.

* '''Kiri Komori''', a {{hikikomori}} (which is also the root of her name). Forced to leave her home early in the series by Nozomu and Kafuka, she now hides inside the school, or [[RunningGag whichever convenient space]] [[RuleOfFunny she can fit in]], [[FanService where she is usually discovered semi-clad]]. Later on in the show, shown to live at Nozomu's house, cooking his meals without him realising it, and taking on a YamatoNadeshiko characterization.Is {{Shotacon}} for Majiru, also to have a relationship with [[HotForStudent Chie Arai]]. And has a bit of a crush on Nozomu.

* '''The Person Formerly Known as Taro Sekiutsu''', a male student previously from the class, who sold his name and register to Maria. Lives as a homeless on the streets, sitting in a cardboard box and [[LampshadeHanging wearing a lampshade as a mask]]. Much like Kiri, has the tendency to pop up in bizarre and improbable locations.

[[caption-width-right:400:Maria, Harumi, Kaere, Chiri, Kafuka, the teacher, Matoi (behind him), Komori (crouching), Abiru, Meru and Nami]]