Hell Teacher Nūbē(Japanese:地獄先生ぬ～べ～) is a manga series with original story byMakura Shōand art byTakeshi Okano. It has spawned anime, novel, and live-action TV drama adaptations.
Story
Hell Teacher Nūbē
The story is set in a fictional Japanese town called "Dōmori-chō," a place frequented by supernatural phenomena. There is a long-established elementary school there named "Dōmori Elementary School." One day, a young man namedNūbēapplies to become theteacherfor Class 5-3. Initially, his students are dismissive and even mock him due to his strange habit of constantly talking about ghosts and monsters and always wearing a black glove on his left hand. However, as his classmates, other school staff, and various people encounter paranormal incidents, and Nūbē consistently steps up to resolve them, the class realizes he is a genuine and powerful psychic. Their attitude towards him shifts from mockery to respect and trust.
Meanwhile, Nūbē and the members of Class 5-3, along with related individuals, are repeatedly drawn into conspiracies involving both humans and supernatural beings. During these events, Nūbē encountersYuki-onnaYukime, a snow woman he once saved;Ritsuko Takahashi, a fellow teacher at Dōmori Elementary; the kitsuneKyōsuke Tamamo, who is both friend and foe; the shrine maiden and fellow psychicTōmei Hazuki; the airheaded mermaidHayami; and other yōkai and humans. They offer him aid, and he, in turn, helps them.
At the end of the story, Nūbē and Yukime marry with the blessings of students, friends, and family. Nūbē receives a transfer to the Kyushu region and moves there with Yukime, continuing to help local students with paranormal cases. The students of Class 5-3 also grow and develop in their own ways.
Hell Teacher Nūbē: Ōmagatoki / NEO
Twelve years after the end of Hell Teacher Nūbē, at the request of Principal Ishikawa, Nūbē returns from Kyushu to Dōmori-chō to assist his former student,Kyōko Inaba, who is now the assistant homeroom teacher for four classes including Class 5-3 at Dōmori Elementary, and once again becomes the homeroom teacher for Class 5-3.
In this story, Nūbē must deal with troubles caused by humans and supernatural beings, confront the mysterious underworld organization "Vimuk," adapt to the generational gap between himself and his students, and guide his former students.
At the end of the story, with the help of "Vimuk" infiltratorUshimitsu, former memberCarla Shin, and his companions, Nūbē successfully dismantles "Vimuk."
Hell Teacher Nūbē S
Some time after the fall of the "Vimuk" organization, a series of incidents triggered by paranormal urban legends occur in Dōmori-chō. While Nūbē and Class 5-3 are drawn into these events, they encounter a mysterious high school student,Gisetsu Gitarō, who spreads urban legends and offers guidance. With his help, they uncover the mastermind behind the incidents—Roa of the Eighth. Ultimately, Nūbē defeats Roa, witnesses his self-transcendence, and continues to stay at Dōmori Elementary to protect the students.
Characters
Dōmori Elementary School Class 5-3
Nūbē
CV:Ryōtarō Okiayu(1996 anime / 2025 anime)
The protagonist of the series. He is the homeroom teacher of Dōmori Elementary Class 5-3, teaching mathematics. He is one of the two human psychics in Dōmori-chō[9]and Japan's only psychic teacher. Nicknamed "Nūbē" or "Shinmai," he is responsible, dedicated, compassionate, and strongly righteous, caring deeply for his students. However, he also has clumsy, foolish, and lecherous sides.
His distinguishing features are his thick eyebrows and the black glove on his left hand. His left hand seals the powerful demon "Bakki" (Ghost Hand), which is also one of his weapons against supernatural beings. Additionally, he uses the White-Robed Kannon Sutra[10], prayer beads, a crystal ball, and his uniqueKuda-gitsune"Bakko." He is also skilled in the "Yōjin no Jutsu," a technique that uses his internal energy to create a doppelganger. When using this technique to project his spirit, he goes by the alias "Yōjinmei."
His financial luck and management skills are abysmal, leaving him in extreme poverty. He survives on school-provided student lunches and instant noodles for three meals a day. His digestive system is so robust that even expired food doesn't affect him. He cannot drive or play video games.
In the early story, he has a one-sided crush on fellow teacher Ritsuko Takahashi. However, as the plot develops, he and the snow woman Yukime, whom he once saved, bond through shared hardships and eventually marry.
At the end of the story in "Hell Teacher Nūbē," he receives orders to be transferred to the Kyushu region, so he moves there with Yukime and has six children with her[11]. In "Hell Teacher NEO," at the request of Teacher Ishikawa, who has become the principal, he returns to Dōmori Elementary School to serve as the homeroom teacher for Class 5-3.
Hiroshi Tateno
CV:Toshiko Fujita(1996 anime) /Ryōko Shiraishi(2025 anime)
A student in Dōmori Elementary Class 5-3. His guardian spirit is afisherman. Previously, he was expelled from his former school due to frequent incidents caused by his irritable and violent personality, which resulted from being possessed by the "Ninety-Nine-Legged Worm." After transferring to Dōmori Elementary and having the worm removed by Nūbē, his personality improves.
His academic performance is poor—he once scored zero on 100 consecutive tests. However, he excels in sports and is the leader of the school soccer team. The super-ancient weapon represents the spirit of "Courage" for him.
He is often unwillingly dragged into incidents involving yōkai and women. He is one of the few in his class who knows the true identity ofKyōsuke Tamamo. His future dream is to become a soccer player. Through experiencing paranormal events with Nūbē and others, he gradually develops feelings for Kyōko Inaba. After Nūbē's transfer to Kyushu, he becomes the captain of the Dōmori Elementary soccer team.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, after graduating from high school, he joins a professional football team in the J-League, entering a love triangle with Kyōko and Miki. In "Hell Teacher NEO," he transfers to Serie A's Rossoneri (i.e., "AC Milan") and becomes a famous player. As a result, he rarely contacts Kyōko but still cares for her. Being a celebrity, he is often involved in various scandals. Later, due to a recurrence of an old knee cruciate ligament injury, he undergoes surgery accompanied by his foreign female assistant, Adelina. This leads Kyōko to mistakenly believe he is cheating and nearly drives her to suicide. After the Mochizuki Kei incident and successful surgery, he gives an engagement ring to Kyōko. In the final chapter, the two officially marry and move to Italy.
Kyōko Inaba
CV:Rumi Kasahara(1996 anime) /Aya Suzaki(2025 anime)
A student in Dōmori Elementary Class 5-3. Her guardian spirit is asamuraifrom theBattle of Sekigaharaera. She isflat-chestedand has long orange-red hair past her waist, though it's not obvious as she wears it intwin tails. In childhood, she was Nūbē's neighbor, and he once helped her when she offended a fox spirit.
She is good friends with Miki Hosokawa, though the two often clash. She is in a relationship with Hiroshi Tateno. Due to her guardian spirit, she possesses extraordinary strength and physical abilities, capable of doing 100 consecutive push-ups. However, she is not skilled in swimming, cooking, sewing, drawing, or other delicate tasks. Her personality is somewhat fiery. The super-ancient weapon represents the spirit of "Friendship" for her.
Her original dream was to be a flight attendant, but influenced by Nūbē and the story's progression, she changes her aspiration to become a teacher. After Nūbē's transfer to Kyushu, she writes a letter on behalf of all Class 5-3 students to update him on their lives.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, after graduating from high school, she enters a language university for further studies, entering a love triangle with Hiroshi and Miki. In "Hell Teacher NEO," she returns to Dōmori Elementary School as an assistant homeroom teacher for several classes, including Class 5-3. Due to Hiroshi's transfer to Italy, she rarely contacts him but still cares for him, troubled by his frequent scandals. After the Mochizuki Kei incident, she receives an engagement ring from Hiroshi. In the final chapter, the two officially marry and move to Italy.
Miki Hosokawa
CV:Mīna Tominaga(1996 anime) /Tomoyo Kurosawa(2025 anime)
A student in Dōmori Elementary Class 5-3. Her guardian spirit is a mischievousprincess. She isbustyand has short light-yellow hair. She possesses the ability to transform into the yōkaiRokurokubi. She has a flaw of enjoying gossip and spreading rumors, which once led to her shadow being used by the yōkai "Kageguchi" to spread falsehoods, but she was saved by Nūbē.
She is good at language arts but poor at mathematics. In the series, she often explains yōkai information on Nūbē's behalf. The super-ancient weapon represents the spirit of "Vanity" for herthe only negative representative spirit. After helping a nest of fledglings migrate, she forms a bond with the yōkaiDaitabōshi. She uses Daitabōshi's ability to move buildings to create significant changes in Dōmori-chō. Even as an adult, she can summon Daitabōshi to assist with building relocations.
She is good friends with Kyōko, though the two often clash. After the "Purple Mirror" incident, she accepts Katsuya Kimura's confession and later formally dates him for a time. Her future dream is to become anactress. After Nūbē's transfer to Kyushu, she apprentices under Tōmei Hazuki to become a psychic.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, after graduating from high school, she dumps Katsuya and enters a love triangle with Hiroshi and Kyōko. In "Hell Teacher NEO," she works part-time at a bar, her original light yellow short hair having grown long. Her ability as a rokurokubi(long-necked monster)has not disappeared. She lives with her niece, Tomabechi Mari, and serves as her guardian. Envious of Kyōko having a stable job and boyfriend after entering society, she later finds peace after being counseled by Nūbē. At a class reunion, she reunites with Katsuya and reveals the real reason for their breakup[12], believing he was only interested in her body. Later, Miki is attacked by a zombified male ghost but is saved when Katsuya steps in. Katsuya also explains why he likes her, and the two rekindle their old romance. In the final chapter, along with Katsuya and Makoto, she offers blessings and farewells to Hiroshi and Kyōko, who officially marry and move to Italy.
Kimura Katsuya
CV:Tanaka Kazunari(1996 anime version) /Iwasaki Ryōta(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School, his guardian spirit is asoldier. He is a delinquent with medium-short hair and has a lecherous flaw. He was once pursued by the cursed sword "Hatamengata" for stealing offering money from a shrine[13], but was saved by Nūkē.
Has a younger sister named Kimura Manami. Because his parents are very busy with work, he usually takes care of Manami, which is why he is skilled at housework and cooking. His hobby is fishing. He was once chased by a Kirin for fishing in a shrine's pond, but was forgiven after the Kirin saw his compassion for animals when he saved a puppy. The representative spirit of the Super Ancient Weapon is "Sense of Responsibility".
Confessed to Miki after the Purple Mirror incident, and the two officially dated for a while. His future dream is to become an Air Force officer. After Nūkē was transferred to Kyushu, he learned bass fishing from a certain genius boy.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, after graduating from high school, he is dumped by Miki and fails his university entrance exams, but his sister Manami comforts him. After retaking the exams twice, he successfully enters the National Defense Academy in "Hell Teacher NEO," his medium-length hair now cut into a neat short style. At a class reunion, he reunites with Miki, argues with her, and they part on bad terms. Later, when a zombified male ghost attacks Miki, Katsuya steps in to protect her and explains that he didn't just like her for her looks, leading to them rekindling their old romance. In the final chapter, along with Miki and Makoto, he offers blessings and farewells to Hiroshi and Kyōko, who officially marry and move to Italy.
Kurita Makoto
CV:Urawa Megumi(1996 anime version) /Furushiro Shihō(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School, his guardian spirit is his deceased grandmother. He is the shortest in Class 5-3 and has a poor memory, but is kind-hearted with a strong sense of justice. He likes small animals and tokusatsu heroes—especially the popular (at the time of the manga's serialization)"Ninja Sentai Kakuranger". Once witnessed aKappawhile hanging on the horizontal bar, later lured the Kappa at the bar area and was dragged underground. Afterwards, he learned the Kappa was hiding there because of an unexploded bomb underground. After explaining the reason to Nūkē and Hiro who came to rescue him, Nūkē used his Ghost Hand to create an illusion to scare away the students, and the Kappa took the three away through the waterway before the bomb exploded. Afterwards, Nūkē thanked the Kappa for what it did for the students.
Not good at sports, but good at playingtable tennisand video games. His hobby and skilled ability iscalligraphy, having won a silver award in a national competition. He is also one of the few people who can seefairies.
Good friends with Shinozaki Ai from Class 6-5, the two are called "Ai and Makoto". His future dream is to become a lawyer. After Nūkē was transferred to Kyushu, he studied hard to attend the same school as Shinozaki Ai, and his grades improved significantly.
The bunkoban version reveals that seven years later, his height increased significantly, he became a quasi-preparatory lawyer and became a couple with Shinozaki Ai. In *Hell Teacher NEO*, he graduated from a third-rate university and repeatedly failed the bar exam, leading to a life of despair and decadence. He once became so discouraged he considered suicide, but was stopped by images of yōkai he had previously encountered, summoned by Nūkē from a crystal ball. Guided by Nūkē to face his decadent life and avoidance of exams, he successfully passed the first stage of the bar exam and entered law school.
In the final chapter, along with Miki and Katsuya, he offers blessings and farewells to Hiroshi and Kyōko, who officially marry and move to Italy.
Yamaguchi Akira
CV:Yanagisawa Michiyo(1996 anime version) /Fujiwara Natsumi(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School. As a child, he was in a coma after a traffic accident. On the verge of death, his soul arrived at Sai no Kawara. After waking up, he would encounter mysterious failures in everything he did, leading to an inferiority complex. Later, Nūkē's investigation revealed it was because he had arrived at Sai no Kawara without dying, and the yōkai "Jizō-gyaku" attached itself to him to take revenge, following him back to the human world. After Nūkē resolved the situation, he became a child prodigy inventoralthough his later portrayal was more like a mad scientist. However, his inventions sometimes bring unpredictable consequences to the Class 5-3 teachers and students, but sometimes also come in handy unexpectedly.
His family runs a dental clinic. He has a younger brother named Yamaguchi Keisuke. Because he was often frightened by his elite-education-oriented mother using the "Kadomono-oni" to scare him, he developed a fear of gaps in doors and windows. He later improved with Nūkē's helpplus his mother's自作聪明 erasure of the talisman.
Once repaired and communicated through the "Spirit World Communicator" left behind byThomas Edisonduring his lifetime, obtaining design blueprints from him to create a psychic robot. However, the robot was accidentally possessed by an evil spirit, and in the end, Nūkē destroyed both the evil spirit and the robot.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, he enters the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Tokyo, becoming a genius inventor in college. In "Hell Teacher NEO," he graduates from university and focuses on robotics research. One day, after reuniting with Nūbē and Kyōko, he shows them the nursing and labor robot "Otaku" he created. However, Nūbē discovers that "Otaku's" thought circuits are an artificial AI made from a captured wandering spirit using technology, and he opposes this. But Akira explains that this time he has erased the spirit's memories, reassuring Nūbē, and states it's for science. Later, when "Otaku" saves Nūbē's student Uzuki Seiran from a car accident, the attached spirit recalls its daughter's death in a car crash and goes berserk. Fortunately, Nūbē finally pacifies the spirit to resolve the crisis. Afterwards, Akira admits he shouldn't have rushed and should rely on his own knowledge and technology to develop the product gradually. Nūbē and Kyōko also recognize and encourage his research and development.
Shirato Shūichi
CV:Kanemaru Jun'ichi(1996 anime version) /Takagaki Ayahi(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School, a wealthy playboy-type character, very popular with girls. His family runs a high-end restaurant, which led to him developing picky eating and wasteful habits. Once, while secretly watching Nūkē exorcise a spirit, he was possessed by a hungry ghost, nearly starving him to the point of losing his mind, but was saved by Nūkē. After this incident, his personality improved somewhat, but his taste in food became quite unique.
Enjoys researching supernatural phenomena likeUFOs. Once, with Nūkē's assistance, he traveled in astral form to the cloud layer of the atmosphere to investigate, accidentally discovering an ancient castle sucked into a zero-gravity area.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, he is still wealthy and popular with women, continuing to study supernatural phenomena. He and Nakajima Noriko are the two main characters from the previous work who do not appear in "Hell Teacher NEO."
Nakajima Noriko
CV:Toyoshima Machiko(1996 anime version) /Tōyama Nao(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School. Her personality is timid, steady, and absent-minded, earning her the nickname "Donko". Once possessed by the fairy Bōki, her personality became outgoing, increasing her popularity in class.
Likes cute small animals. Her hobby is reading, and she works as a librarian in the school library. Good friends with Kikuchi Shizuka. Her future dream is to become a nurse.
One of her ancestors once relieved themselves on the land of the Water God Shrine, angering the Water God. This led to her being prophesied by the yōkai "Kudan" that she would die in a water-related disaster, putting her in crisis. In the end, Nūkē and others who intervened brought offerings to the Water God Shrine to worship the Water God, allowing her to escape the danger.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, she truly becomes a nurse and is very popular with male patients. She and Shirato Hidekazu are the two main characters from the previous work who do not appear in "Hell Teacher NEO."
Kikuchi Shizuka
CV:Uwagawa Emi(1996 anime version) /Makino Yui(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School. Her hairstyle resembles a Hina MatsuriIchimatsu doll, which often causes Nūkē to mistake her for one. She is shorter than girls her age. Good friends with Noriko. Her future dream is to become a policewoman.
A very justice-minded person, but has the flaw of reporting others for minor issues while completely ignoring her own small mistakes. This led to her being possessed by the yōkai "Sanshi", but she was saved by Nūkē.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, she truly becomes a police officer and has grown taller. In "Hell Teacher NEO," she serves as a stationed officer at Dōmori Police Station. She is bothered that Nūbē still recognizes her as the Ichimatsu doll. When Nūbē's student Takigawa Mamoru is brought to the police station for stealing food from a store, she notifies Kyōko and Nūbē to come handle the matter. Additionally, when the serial killer "A" reappears in Dōmori Town attacking children, she steps in and is nearly killed by "A" but is saved by Nūbē.
Kaneda Masaru
CV:Matsuo Ginsan(1996 anime version) /Inoyama Shōji(2025 anime version)
A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School. Overweight, a"Gian"type of student. Claims to like keeping small animals but is bad at caring for them, even casually discarding animal remains. This caused him to be haunted by the monstrous bird "Itsumade". After being taught by Nūkē, he sincerely repented and reburied the animals he had kept.
Has two followers named Narumi and Shūji. Initially at odds with Hiro, later became friends. Originally targeted Kinoshita Kiyomi for bullying, but accidentally discovered her secret of using the Yōjin technique to attend school. Afterwards, Kiyomi recommended the "Complete Works of Lafcadio Hearn" to him, changing his habit of not even reading the words in manga. He began to enjoy reading and became friends with Kiyomi. He is the only one in class who knows Kiyomi's secret.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, he attends the same university as the recovered Kiyomi, joins the mountaineering club together, and becomes even more overweight. In "Hell Teacher NEO," he becomes a truck driver, marries Kiyomi, and begins writing romance novels. When Kiyomi has a difficult childbirth, he seeks help from Nūbē, who then pulls his spirit into Kiyomi's body to support her, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.
Also translated as "Kinoshita Ayumi". A student in Class 5-3 of Dōmori Elementary School. Likes reading. Has latent spiritual abilities. Due to poor health requiring long-term hospitalization, Nūkē made an exception to teach her the Yōjin technique so she could create a doppelganger to attend school. Because her skill was not yet mastered, the doppelganger created by the Yōjin technique would dissolve if it touched water. The only one in class who knows this is Kaneda Masaru.
Was targeted for bullying by Kaneda and mistaken for a Noppera-bō. However, after she proactively recommended the "Complete Works of Lafcadio Hearn" to Kaneda, changing his dislike for reading, and after Kaneda learned her secret of using the Yōjin technique to attend school and stood up to protect her, she, who had few friends in class, was moved by Kaneda and became friends with him.
The bunkoban edition reveals that seven years later, her health improves. She attends the same university as Kanda and joins the mountaineering club, becoming more proficient in using the Yōjin technique. Sometimes she transforms into "Yōjin Mask X" to fight crime. In "Hell Teacher NEO," she has married Kanda and is pregnant, but due to her weak constitution, she has a difficult childbirth. After learning from Kanda, Nūbē pulls Kanda's spirit into Kiyomi's body to support her, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.- Other Class 5-3 Students
- See theHell Teacher/Minor Characterssection
Publication
- The serialized version of *Hell Teacher* was published by Shueisha. The bunkoban (treasured edition) Japanese version was published by Shueisha, and the Traditional Chinese version was published by Tong Li Publishing.
- The Japanese version of *Hell Teacher NEO* was published by Shueisha, and the Traditional Chinese version was published by Tong Li Publishing.
- The Japanese version of *Hell Teacher S* was published by Shueisha, and the Traditional Chinese version was published by Tong Li Publishing.
- Hell Teacher Serialized Version
Notes and External Links
- ↑ "Hell Teacher Nūbē"
- ↑ "Hell Teacher Nūbē: Twilight Hour", "Hell Teacher NEO", "Hell Teacher S", "Hell Teacher Kai". Among these, "Hell Teacher Nūbē: Twilight Hour" is a short story, and "Hell Teacher NEO" was transferred to another magazine.
- ↑ "Hell Teacher Nūbē"
- ↑ "Hell Teacher NEO", "Hell Teacher S". After NEO concluded, serialization continued under the titles "Hell Teacher S" and "Nū~bē~S" until May 2021.
- ↑ "Hell Teacher Kai"
- ↑ "Hell Teacher Nūbē", the bunkoban edition consists of 20 volumes.
- ↑ "Hell Teacher NEO"
- ↑ "Hell Teacher S"
- ↑ The other one is Hazuki Tōna.
- ↑ In the anime adaptation, to avoid controversy, it was changed to an original incantation created by the production team: "Universe and Earth, grant me power. Subdue the demons, bring forth the dawn. My left hand, which seals a hundred ghosts. Obey my command, only at this moment. Heaven and Earth in chaos, the world vast and boundless. Humanity tainted, ghosts and monsters run rampant. Universe and Earth, grant me power. Subdue the demons, bring forth the dawn. My left hand, which seals a hundred ghosts. Obey my command, only at this moment. Sky and sea wide, a demon's face, a Buddha's heart. Ghosts wail and chirp, inspiration dissipates."
- ↑ They are a single child, a pair of twins, and finally born triplets.
- ↑ While on a date with Miki, Katsuya couldn't take his eyes off other women with good figures, and not just once.
- ↑ In the new anime version, "Banmonjō" intentionally dropped an offering for Katsuya.