As the Ultimate Moral Compass, Kiyotaka Ishimaru is defined by his strict sense of justice, discipline, and devotion to rules. He places high value on structure and diligence, to the point of frustration when school activities are suspended during the Killing School Life. His seriousness extends even to his personal habits, such as owning ten identical uniforms so that he can wear one every day of the year, including holidays. In the original Japanese version, he addresses classmates male and female alike with the formal honorific “ kun,” reflecting his respectful and orderly manner.

Shaped by his grandfather’s downfall, Ishimaru values effort above innate talent. He sees genius as a kind of tragedy, pitying those born with it while simultaneously resenting them for not understanding the worth of hard work. He also regards quickness to violence as cowardice, believing true strength comes from discipline and perseverance. Described as “enthusiastic to the point of madness,” he despises idleness and believes every action should serve a purpose.

In line with his title, Ishimaru frequently assumes leadership roles, such as organizing morning meetings for his classmates. However, his extreme rigidity and lack of social skills often cause others to dismiss him. He is prone to shouting, overly direct in conversation, and sometimes unintentionally insensitive, such as when he made Makoto uncomfortable by bluntly mentioning Sayaka Maizono’s corpse. His inability to communicate naturally leaves him feeling guilty about imposing his ideals on others. Despite these flaws, he sincerely cares for his classmates, going so far as to propose that everyone reveal their secrets to counter Monokuma’s motives and naively suggesting that the culprit of the first murder would confess voluntarily.

Beneath his confidence, Ishimaru struggles with low self-esteem and is easily moved to tears when overwhelmed. Though he longs for friendship, he fears he is a burden due to his tendency to overreact. He can also be slow to grasp situations, leaving him vulnerable to deception. One of his more eccentric beliefs is that “when the body is naked, so is the soul,” holding that men can form deeper trust by bathing together. This belief surfaces in his Free Time Events, where he invites Makoto Naegi to bathe with him as a gesture of camaraderie.

The death of his closest friend, Mondo Owada, devastates Ishimaru, leaving him in a near-catatonic state. He only recovers when speaking to Alter Ego, to whom he expresses regret for Mondo’s actions. After Alter Ego imitates Mondo’s voice to comfort him, Ishimaru adopts a new persona, “Kiyondo,” blending his own traits with Mondo’s mannerisms. In this state, he becomes more aggressive and protective, referring to Alter Ego as his “Bro.” Despite his sharper tone, Ishimaru continues to uphold his identity as the Ultimate Moral Compass, refraining from criminal acts and maintaining his belief in order and morality.

At the start of the Killing School Life, Kiyotaka Ishimaru appears to be a high school student; however, due to the memory loss shared by all participants, he is actually two years older than he believes. He has short, spiky black hair, thick eyebrows that match in color, and striking red eyes. Tall and lean, his build is both athletic and muscular, reflecting his disciplined lifestyle.

Ishimaru typically wears a military-inspired white gakuran, the traditional Japanese male school uniform. His outfit is adorned with gold buttons five on each sleeve and five across the chest and features a red and bronze medal above the right breast pocket that bears the symbol of his former high school. His uniform also includes yellow epaulettes, an armband with the kanji 風紀 (fūki, meaning “Public Morals”), and knee-high black lace-up boots. The collar bears the kanji 参 (mairu), a verb with multiple meanings such as “to be defeated,” “to be annoyed,” “to be madly in love,” or “to visit a shrine or grave.”

When adopting his alternate persona “Kiyondo,” Ishimaru’s appearance alters significantly: his hair turns stark white, and his eyes emit a glowing red aura. However, since his body retains its natural black hair after death, it is unclear whether this transformation was literal or symbolic.

In supplementary materials, Ishimaru is noted to wear plain white briefs produced by a company called Military World during his school years. In Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, his swimsuit consists of dark indigo briefs paired with a silver whistle tied around his neck with a white string.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru was born into a family marked by scandal and hardship. His grandfather, once a prominent politician, was disgraced after being implicated in a corruption scandal, which left a lasting stain on the Ishimaru family name. As a result, Kiyotaka grew up with a strong determination to restore his family’s honor and pursued an uncompromising path of discipline, diligence, and moral rectitude.

Influenced by this legacy, he developed an unwavering belief that effort and perseverance are more valuable than innate talent. He came to regard geniuses with both pity and hostility, viewing them as incapable of understanding the worth of hard work. His devotion to rules and order eventually earned him recognition as a model student and led to his acceptance into Hope’s Peak Academy.

At Hope’s Peak, he was given the title of Ultimate Moral Compass for his extraordinary commitment to upholding regulations, promoting discipline, and leading his peers with strict but earnest guidance. This role would later define his interactions with classmates during the Killing School Life, as he often placed himself at the forefront of leadership and order in the group.

Despite her manipulative control and meticulous planning, Junko’s downfall came during the final class trial of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. After her role as the mastermind was exposed by Makoto Naegi and the surviving students, she accepted her defeat not with fear but with exhilaration, embracing the despair of her own execution. For Junko, death itself was the ultimate form of despair and she welcomed it wholeheartedly, ensuring her legacy as the central figure behind the rise of Ultimate Despair.

Ultimate Moral Compass
Kiyotaka Ishimaru possesses the title of Ultimate Moral Compass, granted for his uncompromising dedication to order, discipline, and justice. He consistently upholds a rigid moral code and places immense value on rules and responsibility. Even under the extreme circumstances of the Killing School Life, he maintains his principles and insists on guiding others according to what he perceives as right and proper.

His strong sense of duty often leads him to assume a leadership role among his peers, organizing meetings and encouraging unity. While his strictness and intensity frequently irritate his classmates, his resolve and sincerity reflect his belief that structure and moral clarity are essential for survival and cooperation.

The given name Kiyotaka (清多夏) is composed of the kanji kiyo (清), meaning “pure” or “clean,” ta (多), meaning “many,” and ka (夏), meaning “summer.” His surname Ishimaru (石丸) combines ishi (石), meaning “stone,” with maru (丸), meaning “circle” or “perfection.” Together, his name can be interpreted as symbolizing purity, strength, and endurance.