Nami is trying to solve a “Spot seven differences” puzzle but falls one answer short. Itoshiki takes heed of this and proceeds to instruct the class to spot seven mistakes they’ve made in their lives. After debating with his thoughts out loud he then decides that the class should identify ten life mistakes the students have made. Kaere turns the tables on Itoshiki by asking that he identify some of his mistakes first. Itoshiki easily does so and soon goes on a tirade from being born, how it was a mistake to teach the class, and several other trivial things.

Itoshiki then asks the class to name three mistakes the class has made as a whole. He answers his own question by saying they made the mistakes of enrolling in the school, getting chosen for his class, and getting him for a teacher. He pushes the earlier issue of having the students identify their individual life mistakes. All of the students think about the issues that are relevant to their interests. For instance, Meru concentrates solely on topics pertinent to bad cell phone related decisions. He notices that Maria is the only one that has remained unaffected by this class activity. She responds that coming to Japan was not a mistake and the trio of Chiri, Harumi, and Nami are quick to defend her, calling Itoshiki a bully.

The topic then moves to making correct decisions. Kafuka is quick to deduce that if something is correct then it cannot be a mistake. Logic would usually dictate this is the correct train of thought, but Kafuka has things a bit mixed up. She says that once a mistake comes to light it becomes correct. For example, a business man reveals that he was caught for insider trading. Kafuka says that since the mistake came to light then it is now correct. Rinse, later, and repeat for several other people that have done bad things that have been revealed. Kafuka again says that these mistakes are now correct. She even convinces a serial killer to turn himself in to the police and confess his crimes. As Itoshiki and the others watch the man get taken away in a police car, a boy bearing a great resemblance to Itoshiki shows up.

Chiri and Matoi go ballastic at the thought of Itoshiki keeping an illegitimate child hidden from the class. Since the matter has come to light, Kafuka again proclaims that the mistake has now become correct. Cutting away to Itoshiki’s apartment, we learn that the boy is Itoshiki’s nephew, Majiru Itoshiki. His name means “breach in a relationship” when spelled out horizontally.

Back to school, Majiru sits in on a classroom lecture and is the subject of attention for all the girls. Harumi and Nami make a suggestion to keep him as the class pet they can all take care of. Itoshiki asks why Majiru is in the class and Abiru says that she brought him because it would be neglectful to leave him unattended. Itoshiki panics as he thinks about how society will criticize him for ignoring his responsibility as a parental guardian.

Itoshiki calls doubt to Majiru’s origin and demands that the boy prove his identity. Itoshiki then demands that everyone in the class prove their identity. He casts his doubts about the identity of every student in the class except for Maria, who coincidentally is an imposter. The questions he asks her pertain to personal information that can easily be discovered online, but Itoshiki wholeheartedly belives that she is the person whose identity she has assumed. Majiru now asks Itoshiki to prove that he is the real deal, and the entire class jumps on the bandwagon. Itoshiki comes up short and realizes the hardship of having to prove your identity when the tables are turned. The class decides what the real Itoshiki is and they create their own ideal version of him. In despair, Itoshiki runs away on a journey to discover his own identity.

All in all, this episode definitely ranks up with the earlier episodes in terms of pure hilarity. The social commentary jabs were very spot-on this time and quite funny too.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 at 11:51 pm and is filed under Anime, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.