Itoshiki Family
The Itoshiki are a prestigious family in Kuraizawa (蔵井沢?), Shinshū Prefecture (信州県, Shinshū ken?), a parody of Karuizawa, Nagano, where they reside in a 70 hectare mansion, and have great influence in local affairs. As a running joke throughout the series, when the characters for "Itoshiki" (糸色) is written closely together, the resulting kanji can resemble zetsu (絶?, "beyond"), which often undoes the next character it is appended to. Thus writing Itoshiki-ke (糸色家?, "Itoshiki house") resembles zekke (絶家?, "extinct family").
- Nozomu Itoshiki (糸色 望, Itoshiki Nozomu?)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya
- The main character, a high school teacher and the youngest son of the Itoshiki family. He always wears a hakama and kimono abroad, preferring flippant casual western clothing in his hometown. When his name is written horizontally it resembles zetsubō (絶望?, "beyond hope" or "despair"), befitting his extremely negative, paranoid and pessimistic attitude. He often shouts "I'm in despair!" and attempts suicide several times, though rarely with serious intent. Most of the main girls seem to have feelings for him but only because they misunderstand what he said to each of them (during the episodes introducing them). His negative personality started blossoming when he was in his first year of high school when he 'accidentally' joined a 'Negative' club. He is based upon the main character from Dazai Osamu's No Longer Human, which is both Nozomu's and the author's favorite novel.
- Rin Itoshiki (糸色 倫, Itoshiki Rin?)
- Voiced by: Akiko Yajima
- Nozomu's younger sister, a seventeen-year-old ikebana master. When her name is written horizontally it resembles zetsurin (絶倫?, "unequaled"), which describes her exceptional talent in various skills; however, calling her zetsurin evokes her fury, as the word is often used as slang for sexual prowess. She has revealed her willingness to marry out of the Itoshiki family in the hope of abandoning her unwanted name. Growing up privileged, she has misconceptions about poverty and engages in slum tourism. Rin eventually transfers to Nozomu's school and becomes a student in his class, after which she frequently faces the readers/audience with her backside (in a parody of Shin-chan, who is also voiced by Akiko Yajima).
- Mikoto Itoshiki (糸色 命, Itoshiki Mikoto?)
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya
- The third son of the Itoshiki family, with an uncanny resemblance to Nozomu. He is a medical doctor at the private Itoshiki Clinic. When his name is written horizontally it resembles zetsumei (絶命?, "death"), which explains why his hospital is rarely visited by the town's residents; he has a tendency to lose control of himself whenever he is referred to as "Zetsumei-sensei" ("Dr. Death").
- Kei Itoshiki (糸色 景, Itoshiki Kei?)
- Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu
- The second son of the Itoshiki family, a surrealist painter who is quite full of himself. He has a wife named Yuka who is actually a large stain on the wall of his house. When his name is written horizontally it resembles zekkei (絶景?, "superb scenery").
- Enishi Itoshiki (糸色 縁, Itoshiki Enishi?)
- The first son of the Itoshiki family, Majiru's father, who has yet to appear in the series. He is described as a lawyer who resembles his brothers. His name becomes zetsuen (絶縁?, "disinherited") when compressed, presumably hinting at his whereabouts.
- Majiru Itoshiki (糸色 交, Itoshiki Majiru?)
- Voiced by: Akiko Yajima
- Nozomu's nephew, the son of Enishi. He was sent to live with Nozomu when his parents abandoned him. Although he is rather arrogant for his age, he is quite vulnerable to the psychological trauma caused by Nozomu's students. His name becomes zekkō (絶交?, "breach in a relationship") when compressed. It is hinted he has feelings for Nozomu's student Kiri Komori but so seems to hide this and refer to her as his big sister. Even though he is young, he likes older women and already shows signs of perversion, especially an attraction to hair.
- Hiroshi Itoshiki (糸色 大, Itoshiki Hiroshi?)
- The head of the Itoshiki family, a member of the National Diet. His name becomes zetsudai (絶大?, "immense") when written horizontally.
- Tae Itoshiki (糸色 妙, Itoshiki Tae?)
- Matriarch of the Itoshiki family. Her name becomes zetsumyō (絶妙?, "exquisite") when written horizontally. She is a cookbook author.
- Tokita (時田?)
- Voiced by: Yōji Ueda
- The Itoshiki family butler. He is called Sebastian by the students. He is often seen attending to Rin.
Read more about this topic: List Of Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Characters
Famous quotes containing the word family:
“In former times and in less complex societies, children could find their way into the adult world by watching workers and perhaps giving them a hand; by lingering at the general store long enough to chat with, and overhear conversations of, adults...; by sharing and participating in the tasks of family and community that were necessary to survival. They were in, and of, the adult world while yet sensing themselves apart as children.”
—Dorothy H. Cohen (20th century)