Kohta Hirano

Origin

Creation

Kohta Hirano (平野 コータ, Hirano Kōta) is a lead character of the manga/anime series Highschool of the Dead that was written by Daisuke Sato and illustrated by Shouji Sato. The series first began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Dragon Age magazine in July 2006. The creators of the series classified characters using role-playing game terminology, and Kohta is described as one of the fighters.

His first appearance was in Hightschool of the Dead Volume 1 CH. 1 "Spring of the Dead", and hisfirst anime appearance was in Highschool of the Dead - Episode 1 "Spring of the Dead". His character in the Japanese series is voiced by Nobuyuki Hiyama, and the U.S. dub produced by Section 23 is done by Mark X. Laskowski.

Kohta is named after the legendary Hellsing manga creator Hirano Kohta. In a popularity ranking held by Dragon Age magazine, four characters from Highschool of the Dead were in the top 10, and Kohta tied for tenth place with Saya Takagi and Gosick character, Victorique de Blois.

Character Evolution

Kohta's first appearance in Highschool of the Dead gave the impression that he was just a weak willed otaku who kept to himself. He originally paired with Saya Takagi. She advised him to follow her to the woodworking room to change the tools into weapons. Through sheer ingenuity, he attached drafting T-squares to a mail gun for stability in aiming. They would soon team up with a fellow second-year Takashi Komuro's group. He's considered one of the most valuable members of the survivors due to his proficiency with guns. Takashi has said if he would die that the group would not last long without him.

Age: 16

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Height: 5' 2" (158cm)

Weight: 195.8lbs (88.8kg)

Before the outbreak, Konta had spent some time in America and was trained in firearms by a member of the Black Water group who was a former member of the U.S. Army. One of his classmates remarked that he seems to have a history one could only find in a manga character when he mentions that his mother is a fashion designer, his father is a jewelry salesman, his grandfather was a passenger ship captain from another country and his grandmother was a violinist.

Major Story Arcs

Spring of the Dead

Weapons

As a human fighter with training from military personnel, Kohta is dependent on weapons to survive against the zombies. His knowledge is invaluable his group of survivors.

• Nailgun
• Armalite AR-10 Special

Other Media