The protagonist of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is Nozomu Itoshiki, a high school teacher who carries a bleak outlook on life. It doesn't take much to send him into a spiral of despair. The show, set in modern-day Japan, provides a satirical slice-of-life portrayal of various Japanese cultural aspects. The students in Nozomu's class include Kiri Komori, a recluse who avoids leaving school, and Abiru Kobushi, a puzzling character who often arrives in class with inexplicable injuries. Nozomu's opposite, Kafuuka Fuura, brings her infectious optimism to the class. The other students are equally quirky, making for a dynamic and eccentric cast.