#but then the motherfucking ARTBOOK had to say he's back

[anxious-lorf]

U G H H H H

[kaibutsushidousha]

Artbook Data - Kaito Momota

Kumadori is the make-up pattern worn by violent characters in kabuki theater.

Seiyuu’s comment: Ryouhei Kimura

I yelled a lot (laughs). It was very fun to play the part of a character with a heart win a world as full of suspicion as DanganRonpa. I pray his presence can make you feel more confortable inside that terrifying world filled with monstrous characters. I’m glad I got to be part of this game but... it kinda sucks that I can’t play it unspoiled (laughs).

Kodaka’s comment: Taking the manly spirit of adventure as far as it can go

The name Momota sounds dignified and hot-blooded. And the name Kaito was chosen because it’s just straight-up badass. You could say he knows “the solutions to how to interact with people”, so we thought it would be adequate to write Kaito with the kanji meaning “solution Dipper”. That’s the origin story behind Momota’s name. For his design, we started from the keyword “hot-blooded bro character” and tried many variations, until we ultimately decided to go with a face that’s both handsome and laughable, as he was supposed to be spending long amounts of time with Saihara. The purple uniform, the space print inside, the goatee, they were all Komatsuzaki’s ideas. Aditionally, we decided his talent should be astronaut that’s the best idea we got when we tried to think of how to the elevate the hot-blooded spirit of adventure to the extreme. Space really  is made of adventure, isn’t it! Also because it would be useful in the plot.

The very first thing we decided about him is that he would take the role of the bro character that makes the protagonist grow. We already the hot-blooded character in DR1 with Kiyotaka Ishimaru, but a motivational bro characters was not done in any previous entries. Additionally, adding Harukawa to form an unbalanced trio was another idea we had relatively early in development, thinking Harukawa’s growth would have a good contrast with Saihara’s growth. For V3 in particular, we consciously strived to write growth in every character and for these two in particular, I believe I managed to make their psychological changes much more visible than the rest due to Momota’s presence. When the characters was first presented, I saw a lot of fans saying he was “the new Hagakure”, but seeing how he impacted the protagonist, I believe Momota was the character whose fan impression changed the most before and after the game. 

Momota was a character I made myself, but he was actually heavily inspired by a bro character in a famous manga. Quite a few of his sprites show this, even... Who could it be?

Design Notes:

Hairstyle: A raging standoffish hairstyle. No matter how hard you try to trim it, it still this beautiful mess that closely resembles a space jet coming out of a black hole. 

T-shirt: His favorite t-shirt, one that show his unique fashion sense through the kumadori design stamped on it. Did he buy it because he like it or did he just pick the first thing he found?

Uniform: A fairly long blazer-type uniform Momota ordered a tailor to lenghten even more. He calls it Galactic Jacket. It’s decorated inside with his beloved space imagery. Just everything about it appeals to feeling of wanting to challenge the universe.

Muscles: Although he drove Saihara to do the night training, he is not doing any big exercises himself. He actually never finished his 50 sit-ups nor his 100 push-ups!

Right hand: For some reason he never wears his right sleeve, composing his shoulder jacket Momota Style. Does he perhaps keep the jacket fluttering because he wants to show everyone the space print?

Underwear: Momota’s favorite trunks. The use of the flashy black and red colors is not only eye-catching but it also represent the burning of the universe covering his important parts. It’s basically the big bang in an underwear.

Slippers: Slippers with the same space print as the inside of his uniform. They are okay to use indoors, but they suck to use in places with damage floorboards and muddy floors.

Favorite presents:

Splateen: A teen magazine filled to the brim with pictures of models in swimwear in the heights of summer. Momota’s wants to enjoy youth to its fullest, so he would wholeheartedly appreciate it.

Toy Moon Buggy: A plastic model of a moon exploration robot. It’s plain, but it’s one item filled with the spirit of adventure. A no-brainer when trying to choose a present to a man dreams of setting his legend in space.

Homeplanet: A home light that can make your room like a planetarium. It comes with narrations from popular seiyuus and it fills spirit of adventure to space.

Hated presents:

Japanese-style Wig: A wig with Japanese-style long straight black hair. No matter how much you cut it, the hair always grow back... Never tell Momota this kind of occult story.

Key Phrases:

Here Is The Super High School Level Prodigy!?: Momota was the first person in history to have become an astronaut trainee before the age of twenty. He took the astronaut exam through means he can’t publically say, but the examiners found impressive talent in him. He already had college-level academic knowledge, specially in languages. We couldn’t tell by his looks!? His future prospects are so promising he already got the name of “Super High School Level Astronaut” before he even flew to space. He must escape the Saishuu Academy as soon as possible to go meet his grandparents, who are eagerly waiting for his return!

The Super High School Level Boss and His Disciples: As an astronaut trainee, Momota’s talent was acknowledge by society. But he has already previously worked in various non-space-related fields. He work a lot as a “boss”, guiding special people to success. A Major League player, a Nobel winner, the Prime Minister, idols. Many found success in their lives thanks to his guidance and teachings. In other words, Momota is an expert in finding potential in people and improving them and his aim now is helping Saihara  stop averting his eyes and coming to terms with his talent. And he is not doing it by working on the basics of detective work, but by telling him he was his “assistant” and taking the responsibility for Saihara’s work. Momota is always hot-blooded and forceful, but he has some thoughtful moments?!

Men Should Just Shut Up and Train!: Due to the first case, his friends fell into distrust. In order to regain their seemingly lost union, his first step is to start training every night with his loyal disciple Saihara! Momota made him do 100 push-ups and told him “the impossible becomes possible once you accomplish it!”. Boss Momota didn’t do all of the physical work, but his speech work was on point!

Main quotes:

“Griiiiiit yooooouuurrr teeeeeeeethhhh!“: Saihara was suffering because he exposed someone’s crime and ruined their life. Seeing how he was such a weakling who couldn’t accept this despite of his talent, Momota felt the need as a man to show Saihara the right with his ever forgiving fists. The passionate friendship of high school kids is so wonderful! ...except you’re supposed to say “grit your teeth“ before you punch, not after...

“So what? The person in a woman’s underwear could have been anyone, even me!“: A case has happened one night. One testimony that could become an alibi said a woman in underwear was witnessed. Seeing someone in woman’s underwear would immediately lead to deducing the person was a woman. However, Momota presented the minimal possibility it was him...? Think about it rationally, he made some absurd declarations. As Shirogane put it “this would be an entirely different crime“!?

“N-No fucking way... it’s a motherfucking curse-! Cut that crap!!“: Monokuma suddenly mentions “reving the dead“. Bringing their recently dead friends back to life is so proposterous that obviously no one takes it seriosly. Except for Momota, who starts shivering, have breathing problems and losing his appetite. And as the undesirable situation escalates, people start commenting about the curse of the dead. With this intense yell, he pathetically clings to Harukawa. Even after Harukawa replies “You’re the one who... should cut the crap...! D-d-... do you wanna die-!?“, he show no signs of letting go... Despite how forceful and luck-pushing he is, he gets really weak when it comes to ghost stories. Teeheehee.

Final comment: People get hot-blooded just by standing next to him!? When he has something decided, he goes for it without listening to what anyone has to say about it. The luminary’s burning reverberating soul would never fade away inside Saishuu’s walls!