Nozomu Itoshiki is depressed. Very depressed. He’s certifiably suicidal, but he’s also the beloved schoolteacher of a class of unique students, each charming in her own way: The stalker. The shut-in. The obsessive-compulsive. The girl who comes to class every day with strange bruises. And Kafuka, the most optimistic girl in the world, who knows that every cloud has a silver lining. For all of them, it’s a special time, when the right teacher can have a lasting positive effect on their lives. But is that teacher Itoshiki, a.k.a. Zetsubou-sensei, who just wants to find the perfect place to die?
Be mindful of first-timers; please use spoiler text for any spoilers. __________
>Thou Shalt Not Know This title is a reference to the poem Kimi Shinitamo koto Nakare (“Thou Shalt Not Die”), by Akiko Yosano (1878-1942). In Japanese, “Thou Shalt Not Know” is Kimi Shiritamo koto Nakare, just one letter’s difference.
>One missed call In addition to a common cellphone message, Chakushin Ari (“One Missed Call”) is the name of a 2004 Japanese horror movie. An American remake was released in 2008.
>Dangerous Regions of Tokyo Death Map The Tokyo Kiken Chitai Shi no Map (“Tokyo Dangerous Regions Map of Death”) originated on a program broadcast on July 2, 2005, on Asahi TV, which claimed to show what buildings and parts of Tokyo would be most dangerous in case of a major earthquake. The program also warned viewers of the high probability of an earthquake.
>Takeo Omori Takeo Omori is a character in Masashi Ueda’s long-running family four-panel manga Yorinuki Kobo-chan, aka Kobo the Li’l Rascal. His marriage in the strip was a minor media event.
>Assorted references “Train man” refers to the megahit 2004 love story Train Man, aka Densha Otoko, which was supposedly based on a real incident. Ippai no Kakesoba (“One Serving of Kakesoba Noodles”) was a popular human-interest story written by Ryohei Kuri in 1989, and later adapted into a movie; however, its popularity was marred when the author was later convicted of crimes. “I thought I’d bought an 86 but | got an 85” refers to the AE85 and AE86 Toyota Corolla GTS. (The AE8S has a similar exterior but a less-powerful engine.) “That manga” may refer to Hayate the Combat Butler, the manga by Kumeta’s former assistant Kenjiro Hata, currently running in Weekly Shonen Sunaay (a rival of Weekly Shonen Magazine, where Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei appears).
>The Truth of the Universe Map Unfortunately, analyzing this map in detail would take as much space as the entire volume. However, readers will recognize references to many recurring jokes, such as the Ueno Clinic, Yoshiko Sakurai, etc.
And that's all for today. Tell me now. Seriously speaking. What's the secret of the universe? If that's too deep a question to answer, tell me your opinion: is ignorance really bliss? I can certainly think of a few things I'd rather not know (or remember). I'm also sure that a relatively full fan analysis of the Universe Map exists somewhere. If anyone knows of one, be sure to post a link to it. See you tomorrow. __________
>Murindô Bookstore Murindô literally means “friendless.”
