Ultimate Imposter

For characters that The Ultimate Imposter impersonates, see: Byakuya Togami, Ryota Mitarai, or Kyosuke Munakata.

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Ultimate Imposter

Gallery

Sprites

The Ultimate Imposter
Aliases & Titles
English	Ultimate Despair (Former) Byakuya Togami * Ryota Mitarai * Kyosuke Munakata *
Japanese	超高校級の「絶望」 (Former) 十神 白夜 * 御手洗 亮太 * 宗方 京助 *
Talent
English	Ultimate Imposter Ultimate Swindler *
Kanji	超高校級の「詐欺師」
Romaji	Chō kōkō kyū no “sagishi”
Translation	Super High School Level Imposter
Characteristics
Gender	Unknown (Presents as male in shown disguises)
Height	Unknown
Weight	Unknown
Birth Date	Unknown
Chest Size	Unknown
Blood Type	Unknown
Likes	Unknown
Dislikes	Unknown
Personal Status
Participated	Killing School Trip
Status	Alive
Affiliation	Class 77-B
Previous Affiliation	Hope's Peak Academy Ultimate Despair
Debuts
Game	Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Anime	Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Despair Arc #01
Manga	Danganronpa 2: Ultimate Luck and Hope and Despair
Novel	Danganronpa 1 ・2 Beautiful Days
Portrayals
Games	日本語 Akira Ishida (As Byakuya) en-US Jason Wishnov (As Byakuya)
Anime	日本語 Kanata Hongō (As Ryota) 日本語 Toshiyuki Morikawa (As Kyosuke) 日本語 Akira Ishida (As Byakuya & true identity) en-US Justin Briner (As Ryota) en-US UNKNOWN (As Byakuya) en-US Ricco Fajardo (As Kyosuke) Deutsch Rahul Chakraborty (As Ryota & true identity) Deutsch Christopher Kohn (As Byakuya) Deutsch Florian Clyde (As Kyosuke)
Stage	日本語 Yōsuke Nishi (As Byakuya)

“

Don't worry, as long as I'm the leader, I won't let anyone become a victim. I will guide you all! That much, I promise. — Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

”

The Ultimate Imposter (超高校級の「詐欺師」), is a student of Hope's Peak Academy's Class 77-B, and a participant of the Killing School Trip featured in Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. They impersonate Byakuya Togami as the Ultimate Affluent Progeny (超高校級の「御曹司」 lit. Super High School Level Heir).

They, along with Class 77-B, return in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School to explore their school life leading up to The Tragedy.

History

Early Life

The Ultimate Imposter is described as someone born with nothing — no name, no family, no birth certificate, and, more simply, no identity of their own. This nothingness renders them completely invisible and strips their life of meaning. All they possess is a desire to live a normal life and have their existence acknowledged. To fulfill these desires, they resort to the only option available to them: stealing the identities of others. In their Island Mode, they explain that they can't even exist unless they assume someone else's appearance. As such, they impersonated various people, moving from one identity to another. Each time they are found out, they are forced to disappear and assume a new persona — all in the pursuit of simply wanting to exist, not for cheap goals like obtaining money or power.

Due to this lifestyle, the Ultimate Imposter became a distrustful person for as long as they can remember, developing a deeply skeptical nature—distrusting others and being distrusted in return. They described this existence as a living hell, as they never truly wanted to live a lie or deceive anyone, not even themselves. One of the few sources of comfort for them is food, particularly fast food, as its consistency across different locations offers a sense of safety and consistency—something often taken for granted by those with a defined identity. They became very enthusiastic about food and decided to gain a heavier build.

Their reputation as a young swindler grew through online rumors, leading a scam artist Yūzen Minase to accuse Kyoko Kirigiri, the Ultimate Detective of Class 78th, who was still in junior high school at the time, of being the Ultimate Imposter, believing her to be not a real detective but a con woman. One notable feat the Ultimate Imposter accomplished was impersonating Koichi Kizakura, a scout for Hope's Peak Academy, to help scout members of Class 77-B while the real Koichi was too intoxicated to do his job. Koichi who later discovered this was so impressed that he enrolled the Ultimate Imposter into Hope's Peak Academy as a student in the same class.

At some point, the Ultimate Imposter chose to impersonate Byakuya Togami, the Ultimate Affluent Progeny of Class 78th. They admired his underdog story of defeating hundreds of siblings to claim his title, describing him as "the most absolute existence" they had ever seen. However, they soon began to impersonate Ryota Mitarai, the Ultimate Animator, so that the other boy could spend all his time on animating. Ryota frequently overworked himself and often forgot to eat, so the Imposter regularly checked on him and brought him food. The two lived together during this time.

Prior to the Tragedy

Attending Hope's Peak Academy

Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Despair Arc

As Byakuya

The details of whether the Ultimate Imposter attended class before assuming Ryota's identity remain unknown. As a result, it's unclear whether the rest of Class B initially met Ryota himself or the Imposter posing as Byakuya Togami. Their homeroom teacher, Chisa Yukizome, also appears to ignore the existence of the real Ryota, leaving it uncertain whether she was aware of the truth. Although the classroom for Class B was designed to accommodate 16 students, the seat next to Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer, remained unoccupied throughout the first year due to Ryota's prolonged absence.

First meeting with Ryota

Although Ryota remained absent from class, he did reside within the old student dorms — which is where the Ultimate Imposter who also lived in the same building would eventually cross paths with him. They first met each other when Ryota collapsed in the dorm hallway from exhaustion and starvation. The Imposter who at the time was impersonating Byakuya, carried him to their room, and this encounter led them to get to know each other. Eventually, the Ultimate Imposter proposed taking on Ryota's identity. Ryota agreed, and the Imposter began masquerading as him. They remained in their respective rooms, but the Ultimate Imposter changed their room's blank nameplate to that of Ryota's.

First Year

As Ryota

The Ultimate Imposter then began to perfectly replicate Ryota's hermit lifestyle and reclusive personality, spending most of their time isolated in their dorm to focus on animation and frequently skipping classes. This changed when Chisa dragged the Imposter from their room to class, again and again when the Imposter managed to run away from her. She acknowledged that while attendance was not mandatory for Ultimates, making memories and building character alongside their classmates was just as important, and encouraged the Ultimate Imposter to do so. The Ultimate Imposter, despite beginning to attend class regularly and spending time with their classmates, still tended to bury themselves in their work as a part of Ryota's impersonation.

Asking Ryota to take a break

Ryota's health worsened at the end of their freshman year. Despite the Imposter regularly bringing him food and urging him to rest, Ryota stubbornly refused and eventually collapsed from exhaustion and malnutrition. This led the Imposter to seek help from their classmate, Mikan Tsumiki, the Ultimate Nurse, bringing her in to care for Ryota—even at the risk of her discovering their disguise. Mikan was entrusted with keeping the Imposter and Ryota's secret and, in return, was grateful for the Imposter's kindness and trust. The Imposter continued to care for Ryota as they entered their second year, regularly reminding him to visit the hospital.

Second Year

Informing Mikan about Ryota's disappearance

Once Class 77-B moved to a new school building, however, the Ultimate Imposter discovered that Ryota had been missing for a week, leaving behind only a note saying he would be focusing on his work. Unbeknownst to him, Ryota had been kidnapped by Junko Enoshima and Mukuro Ikusaba—the Despair Sisters of Class 78th—who sought to exploit his talent to spread their influence and plunge the world into despair. They confined him in a facility owned by one of the school's trustees, forcing him to work on an animation that would later be used to brainwash people into despair. The worried Imposter confided in Mikan about Ryota's disappearance, prompting her to check his room in case he had returned to gather his belongings. However, she was abducted by Mukuro, who had come to collect the remaining items. Similar to Ryota’s note, the Ultimate Imposter received a message from Mikan, stating that she was helping him.

Asking Nagito about Mikan's whereabouts

When Nagito Komaeda, the Ultimate Lucky Student, returned from his one-year suspension and mentioned seeing Mikan around the West District of the school, the increasingly worried Ultimate Imposter grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and demanded more information—a noticeable shift in character that Nagito picked up on, though the Imposter quickly brushed it off. Together with their classmates, the Imposter went to search for Mikan on the school grounds, but to no avail.

Face reveal

When the group returned to the classroom, however, they found Chiaki carrying Nagito, who had visited Junko's lair and explained that Chisa was in danger. To their surprise, Mikan also appeared out of nowhere, carrying the wounded Peko Pekoyama, the Ultimate Swordswoman, who had previously fought with Mukuro. Inspired by everything that had happened and moved by Chiaki’s rally to help Chisa, the Ultimate Imposter tore off their Ryota mask, revealing their true face. They admitted to deceiving everyone because of their talent, but felt it was finally time for the truth to come out. Their classmates accepted them without hesitation, and together they set off for Junko’s lair, spirits high and united.

Class 77-B brainwashed

This treacherous journey to Junko's lair turned out to be a trap, with Chisa and Mikan—already brainwashed into despair—used as bait and guides to lure the Ultimate Imposter and their classmates into what would later become the Class Trial room. Once inside, they were horrified to witness Chiaki, who had been secretly pushed into an underground corridor by Mikan, brutally executed by Junko before their eyes. Everyone wanted to save her, but no one could move, prompting the Ultimate Imposter to question whether it was the video Ryota had been working on. Bearing witness to Chiaki's death caused the brainwashing effect of the video to take hold of the Imposter and the others, plunging them into despair.

At the graduation ceremony

Fully brainwashed into becoming the Ultimate Despair, the Ultimate Imposter and their classmates received their final lesson before "graduation", the one final meeting to discuss their plan to overthrow the world with despair. The Imposter expressed they could 'become anyone' they wanted, even president before Chisa activated a bomb that faked the death of Class 77-B so they could be taken off the list of protected students. The Imposter and their class stood outside the school grounds as they watched Hope's Peak's destruction.

The Tragedy

Dodging Future Foundation's attacks

The Ultimate Imposter joined the Ultimate Despair after falling prey to Junko's brainwashing. Alongside their corrupted classmates, they started The Tragedy and kept it ongoing even after Junko's death in the final stage of the Killing School Life. The Imposter and their classmates who did not commit suicide to follow their leader Junko soon became known as the Remnants of Despair. They also hacked her body and grafted them onto themselves—though in the Imposter's case, the specific body parts they took remain unknown. One of their most infamous acts as an Ultimate Despair was impersonating Byakuya Togami to fight members of the Future Foundation and was able to nimbly dodge their attacks while using night vision goggles.

Remnants of Despair

Eventually, the Future Foundation secured the custody of the Ultimate Imposter and the other fourteen - at first only aware that they were survivors from Hope's Peak Academy. When Makoto Naegi, Class 78th's Ultimate Lucky Student, by that time a member of the 14th Division of the Future Foundation, realized that the survivors were in fact, Remnants of Despair, he quickly directed them to Jabberwock Island in secret.

Neo World Program

Makoto made them enter the Neo World Program, where their memories were reset to a time prior to their entering Hope's Peak Academy, before they were brainwashed by Junko - resulting in all of them not recognizing each other. The plan was to overwrite the Imposter and the others' memories of themselves as Ultimate Despair, replacing them with good ones in order to undo all the damage Junko had done to them. The scheme backfired when Izuru Kamukura, the Ultimate Hope and the final product of the Izuru Kamukura Project, uploaded Junko's malware AI just before they were to be programmed. Consequently, they were subjected to the identical brutal incident that befell Class 78th, although in a realistically simulated environment. The killing game became known as the Killing School Trip, an ordeal that the Imposter and the other Remnants of Despair were coerced into participating.

Killing School Trip

Main article: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Killing School Trip participants

The Ultimate Imposter participated in the Killing School Trip in their Byakuya disguise alongside fourteen other Remnants of Despair and one Future Foundation observer. It occurred in a virtual world, the Neo World Program, resembling Jabberwock Island. Due to their memories as the Ultimate Despair and life in Hope's Peak Academy being erased by the Future Foundation, they couldn't recognize any of their classmates.

From the get-go, the Imposter demonstrated rational thinking, a calm disposition, and a condescending attitude—reminiscent of the original Byakuya. They arrogantly kept their introduction simple and short and pushed Hajime Hinata away after failing to tell him his Ultimate talent. However, unlike the original Byakuya, who often excluded himself from group meetings, the Ultimate Imposter moderated their first unofficial meeting by encouraging everyone to share their discoveries after investigating the island for the first time. Despite this, they were unimpressed by the reports, as they were the only one who noticed the five animal statues representing the five holy beasts of Jabberwock Island—leading them to realize that they were on Jabberwock Island. Before they could reveal more information about the island, they were interrupted by Usami, the observer of the school trip, an AI programmed by the Future Foundation, who claimed to be the class's teacher. Although she gave the Imposter and their classmates swimsuits so they could bond by playing on the beach—and they believed in her words and intentions—they refused to join, claiming "the ocean water was too salty".

The Killing School Trip begins

The promising tropical school trip, however, turned into a nightmare immediately as the Imposter learned that the evil animatronic bear, Monokuma, the self-proclaimed headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, had hijacked their trip and turned it into a killing game. People began to panic knowing the fact that they had no choice but to submit after Monokuma made an example of Usami (renamed into Monomi by Monokuma) by blowing her to pieces using Monobeasts. Nevertheless, the Ultimate Imposter warned them that in the hopeless situation of a killing game, they should be more cautious of each other rather than focusing solely on the Monobeasts or a possible mastermind.

The Ultimate Imposter did not waste a single day to take matters into their own hand, with them gathering their classmates to a morning gathering at the restaurant. They proposed that the group needed to band together under disciplined leadership—proceeding to appoint themselves to the role, believing they were naturally fit for it as the Ultimate Affluent Progeny. Despite protests from Mahiru Koizumi, the Ultimate Photographer, there was little opposition to the decision due to the Imposter's clear leadership qualities. They were officially recognized as the leader, and the Imposter assured everyone that as long as they held that role, they wouldn't allow a single victim. Once that was settled, the Imposter led everyone to Jabberwock Park, where a mysterious countdown timer emerged—something Monomi denied knowing, attributing to Monokuma. They also theorized that an enormous organization, whose power and influence might even surpass the Togami Corporation, was behind their kidnapping. With overlapping mysteries needing answers, the Imposter encouraged the group to search for clues, while assuring them they would stay safe under their guidance and protection.

The threatening letter received by the Imposter

Later that night, the Ultimate Imposter and the rest of the group gathered in Jabberwock Park at Monokuma's order. There, they managed to calm down Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, the Ultimate Yakuza, persuading him to stand down from his threats to initiate the killing. Monokuma then announced the first motive: the revelation that their school memories had been erased by Monomi and that a traitor existed among them. Only through murder would one's memories be restored. As panic spread, the Ultimate Imposter suggested they all rest for the night to clear their minds. In the following morning, the Imposter received an envelope from an unknown sender, warning that a killing would occur later that night.

The Party

Fearing the content of the threatening letter, the Ultimate Imposter proposed holding an all-night party during the morning meeting to confine everyone in one place and prevent a potential murder. At Nagito's suggestion and with Monomi's approval, the party venue was decided to be the old building next to the restaurant. Although everyone was initially hesitant, they eventually agreed to attend the Imposter's party—everyone except Fuyuhiko. Unbeknownst to the Imposter, choosing the old building as the venue played directly into Nagito's trap—the very same person who had sent them the threatening letter. Relying purely on his luck talent to draw cleaning duty, Nagito used the opportunity to set the stage for the very murder the Imposter had hoped to prevent.

Confiscating the iron skewers

Before the party started, the Ultimate Imposter took extra precautions by performing body checks on both male and female students, confiscating any dangerous items into a duralumin case, and preparing another case for emergency use—both of which they had acquired from the supermarket. They even began eating before anyone else, eating the churrasco that used iron skewers, prepared by Teruteru Hanamura, the Ultimate Cook, who had volunteered to cook for the party. This led them to drag Hajime to assist him removing all potentially dangerous items in the kitchen, including utensils like forks and knives. Hajime, baffled by the Imposter's over-cautiousness, questioned what had prompted them to throw an all-night party. This led the Imposter to reveal a glimpse of their true backstory outside of their Byakuya impersonation, admitting that they had been a distrustful person in the past. However, before they could elaborate further, they were interrupted by Teruteru who didn't want them to remove any utensils from the kitchen. The Imposter then questioned Teruteru about a missing iron skewer from the equipment list, to which Teruteru claimed it hadn't been there from the beginning, unaware that his response was a lie—something that would soon be uncovered in the unfolding tragedy.

Next, the Imposter arranged for someone to safeguard the duralumin case containing all the confiscated dangerous items. Peko volunteered for the task. When Sonia Nevermind, the Ultimate Princess, suggested she guard it in the storage room, Nagito quickly objected, claiming he hadn't cleaned it. In reality, he wanted to keep Peko away from the irons he had placed there, which were crucial to triggering the upcoming blackout. The Imposter then suggested the office instead, thinking it would also protect the circuit breaker—though, in the end, it was of no use. The emergency case, containing several self-defense and precautionary items, however, stayed with the Imposter at all times. They also wanted someone to keep Monokuma at bay, to which Chiaki volunteered, intending to cooperate with Monomi and guard the entrance to the old building for the duration of the party.

Watching over everyone during the party

With all preparations and precautions in place, the Ultimate Imposter allowed the party to begin. During the party, the Ultimate Imposter stood in a corner, watching everyone like a hawk—remaining highly cautious to prevent any attempted murder, as threatened in the letter they had received. Chaos soon erupted when Nekomaru Nidai, the Ultimate Team Manager, began shouting about needing to use the bathroom but being unable to access the toilet in the building, and Gundham Tanaka, the Ultimate Breeder, started panicking over a missing earring. While the Imposter was trying to control the situation, a sudden blackout occurred at exactly 11:30 pm.

The Ultimate Imposter's Fate

Spotting Nagito's suspicious activity during the blackout

The blackout prompted the Imposter to take out their night-vision goggles from the case to navigate the dining hall in complete darkness. Almost immediately, they noticed Nagito making a suspicious movement, using the desk lamp's power cord to guide himself as he crawled under the table to retrieve a knife he had planted earlier while cleaning the building. Acting quickly, the Imposter dove under the table to seize the knife, only to discover someone else moving under the floorboards, carrying an iron skewer aimed at Nagito. In a split-second decision, the Imposter shoved Nagito away from the table and took the blow themselves, ending their life. It took the students quite some time to discover the body after the lights returned, and they were horrified when they did.

The Imposter's body

Through the investigation and class trial, Hajime and the others deduced that Nagito was responsible for staging the blackout and threatening the Ultimate Imposter with a murder note, which had prompted them to hold the party. Moreover, Nagito had shared his plan with Teruteru while they were cleaning and cooking, respectively. Paranoid about Nagito's murderous intentions and desperate to recover his school memories—especially those related to his mother and family diner—Teruteru decided to murder him during the blackout. Unfortunately, while moving under the floorboards in the dark, Teruteru relied solely on the glow-in-the-dark tape attached to the knife that Nagito was supposed to retrieve. Since the Imposter was holding it instead, they became the unintended victim, stabbed multiple times by the one missing iron skewer they had overlooked

After their death, the group grieved for the Imposter's death and decided to keep working together to escape the island. Meanwhile, Nagito, whose plan cost the Imposter's life, became resented by the group to the point where he was abducted and tied to the crime scene of the Imposter's murder for a few days to reflect on his wrongdoings. Their deceased portrait in the class trial courtroom can be seen from the first trial onwards.

Ultimate Imposter's profile

Much later into the killing game, during the investigation of Nagito's murder, Hajime and Chiaki discovered a file that Nagito had received from Monokuma as a prize for clearing the Final Dead Room in the Funhouse. Within it, they learned that the "Byakuya" they had all believed they knew was the Ultimate Imposter. Their profile was deliberately filled with question marks—such as name, sex, age, and so on—because, as Monokuma explained, it was a fact that everything about them was unknown. They could only exist by becoming someone else.

The Ultimate Imposter briefly reappeared as an illusion shortly before the countdown ended, as the Neo World Program began glitching. They accompanied the remaining survivors to watch Nagito's video message, which revealed the password to the Ancient Ruins. They ordered the group to believe that hope awaited beyond the ruins. Consequently, they were annoyed when Ibuki complimented their coolness in piggy talk, having been misled by Hiyoko into thinking they only understood piggy talk.

The illusory Imposter was later conjured during the game reset sequence of the final class trial, a scenario made by Alter Ego Junko to persuade Hajime and the remaining survivors to graduate. Had she succeeded, it would have allowed her to upload her AI into the comatose bodies of the "dead" Remnants of Despair, effectively reviving them as copies of herself. In this sequence, they no longer spoke in Byakuya's voice—their tone shifted to a more gender-neutral one, and in the original Japanese, they referred to themselves using the pronoun boku (僕). They briefly wondered if they should reintroduce themselves. Whether this was a glimpse of the Ultimate Imposter's true self or merely an illusion conjured by Hajime remained unclear.

Post-Killing School Trip

Revived the Ultimate Imposter and their classmates.

After Alter Ego Junko's defeat, the Ultimate Imposter remained in a coma alongside their classmates, while the survivors waited for them to wake. Eventually, Izuru Kamukura—now merged with Hajime's personality and memories—revived them. Purged of Junko's brainwashing, the Imposter, now alive and awake from the Neo World Program, boarded the boat with the rest of Class 77-B. Together, they headed for the Future Foundation HQ to stop the Final Killing Game involving the Future Foundation leaders.

Resurrection and Atonement

Main article: Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Hope Arc

Remnants of Despair's atonement

The Ultimate Imposter and their classmates arrived at the island where the Future Foundation's off-shore facility was located, having left from Jabberwock Island. Having rescued Byakuya and Yasuhiro Hagakure from beneath the rubble, the group set out to confront Ryota, who Junko had coerced into creating the brainwashing video that transformed the Imposter and the others into the Ultimate Despair. Unlike the Imposter and the rest, he avoided being turned into Ultimate Despair due to his contribution. Thus, the Class 77-B's fight with the brainwashed rescue squad troops, including the Former Super High School Level Elite Task Force, began.

Aiding Kyosuke

The Imposter, disguised as Kyosuke Munakata, came to his aid as he fought through a group of brainwashed soldiers. Imitating Kyosuke's swordsmanship, the Imposter defeated the remaining enemies. Realizing it was a Remnant of Despair impersonating him, Kyosuke demanded to know their purpose. The Imposter simply replied, "Atonement."

Comforting Ryota

Afterward, the Imposter took the form of Ryota, as they had during their time at Hope's Peak Academy, to talk their friend out of using the Hope brainwashing video. During the confrontation, Ryota expressed his belief that he and the other Remnants of Despair could never be forgiven for allowing Junko to plunge the world into despair. In response, Hajime offered Ryota the chance to join them in returning to Jabberwock Island to atone for their sins together. Ryota eventually broke down in tears and agreed, stopping the countdown mere seconds before the brainwashing was completed. He collapsed to his knees from where he was standing and began to cry, and The Ultimate Imposter rushed over to him and held him in a comforting embrace.

The Imposter and the other former Remnants of Despair shouldered the blame for the Final Killing Game by sending a broadcast video to the Future Foundation. They presented themselves in their despair personas and preserved the Future Foundation's credibility and power to rebuild the world, an act of atonement for their sins as the Ultimate Despair. Having accomplished their atonement, the Imposter and their classmates returned to Jabberwock Island by boat.

Leaving for Jabberwock Island

As they departed, the Ultimate Imposter asked Ryota if he had been eating, noting that he was even skinnier than before. He proceeded by saying 'The only things you can really believe in' Ryota finishing his sentence stated 'fat and sugar content'. This prompted Ibuki Mioda, the Ultimate Musician, to shove a burning hot stick of meat into his mouth, much to Ryota's bewilderment.

Real Fiction

Main article: Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

The Imposter cosplayed by Tsumugi Shirogane.

In Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, it is alleged by the mastermind Tsumugi Shirogane, the Ultimate Cosplayer, that the entire Danganronpa franchise is fictional in-universe; a series of games, anime, and later live-action dramas performed actors. In particular, Tsumugi, who is the Ultimate Cosplayer, claims she is only able to cosplay fictional characters (breaking out into a bright pink rash whenever she tries to cosplay a real person), and the fact she is able to cosplay as the whole cast of Danganronpa characters including the Ultimate Imposter is used as evidence to support her claim that all of the cast are fictional. However, due to a number of holes in Tsumugi's story which make her an unreliable narrator, whether or not she was telling the truth is deliberately left up to the player's interpretation; as a result, it is up to the player whether they believe the Imposter's story within the Danganronpa series was real, or a fictional story written by Team Danganronpa and performed by an actor.

Creation and Development

According to creator Kazutaka Kodaka, once production on Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair was greenlit, the development team initially planned to introduce an entirely new cast and temporarily retire Byakuya Togami along with the rest of the original characters. However, they ultimately decided to bring him back to reinforce the game's identity as a true sequel. Kodaka noted that simply reusing his original design or aging him slightly would have felt lazy, so the team experimented with several creative variations before settling on the Ultimate Imposter's final design. Character designer Rui Komatsuzaki revealed that the design concepts for the character were "a plus-sized Byakuya" and "an agile fat guy," as commissioned by Kodaka. Komatsuzaki referred to it as an absurd order, having been asked to draw a fat character while preserving Byakuya's cool factor. According to Kodaka, the final design ended up looking more cute than cool and was aimed to convey the impact of how Danganronpa does sequels.

The development team and fans responded with mixed opinions to the decision to reintroduce Byakuya in a significantly altered form. However, Kodaka stated that the team ultimately concurred that the character was given a significant and impactful role. Interestingly, unlike other characters in Danganronpa 2, this version of Byakuya lacks a confirmed birthday or even a known gender. Their true talent is the ability to perfectly imitate others, excluding physical appearance. Kodaka remarked that he would be interested in seeing this character's imitation of figures like Celestia Ludenberg or Aoi Asahina, if the opportunity ever arose.

Akira Ishida, The Imposter and the original Byakuya's Japanese voice actor, also commented on his character:

"It's an honor to reprise my role as Byakuya Togami. Togami is returning to a much more "super high school level" cast of characters, so despite my performance efforts to retain his overwhelmingly egotistical personality, I was worried he would be overshadowed by the rest of this colorful cast (laughs). Enjoy Danganronpa 2 for this ensemble of impactful characters."

Alternate Fates

Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan exist in two separate alternate universes where the Ultimate Imposter still attends Hope's Peak Academy, but no students are in peril. As they are alternate universes, these events are non-canonical, but because the Imposter's personality is unchanged, backstory information shared by them in these events is considered questionably or dubiously canonical rather than fully non-canonical.

Free Time Events are also considered somewhat questionably canonical due to the nature of how Free Time Events are accessed (in that some characters' Free Time Events cannot be fully completed during the course of the canon game storyline due to limitations on the number of interactions you can have with them during one playthrough, and thus can only be accessed after they have canonically died either through a second playthrough or via Island Mode). However, due to Free Time Events being largely experienced during the canon game storyline, Free Time Events are more grounded in canon than Island Mode and Ultimate Talent Development Plan and are largely considered canon by the majority of players.

Appearance

The Ultimate Imposter's true appearance features long black hair, thick eyebrows, and green eyes. They have a notably heavy build, yet are capable of flawlessly impersonating others—even when the person they are copying has a completely different physique. Their gender is unknown, but they present a convincingly male persona while disguised as Byakuya, flawlessly mimicking his voice, mannerisms, and poses. There are two instances where the real Ultimate Imposter's voice is showcased. When they reveal their face to their classmates for the first time, they speak with a deep and masculine voice. However, during a game reset sequence at the climax of the Killing School Trip, a brief glimpse of what appears to be their real voice sounds notably different—higher-pitched and more gender-ambiguous.

While disguised as Byakuya, the Imposter closely resembles the original, with blond hair, bright blue eyes, and rectangular white-framed glasses. Their shirt appears identical to the ones worn by the real Byakuya; however, this version of "Byakuya" has a much heavier build and wears a white dinner jacket, white slacks, and white dress shoes.

As an Ultimate Despair, the Imposter—still in their Byakuya disguise—wears night vision goggles emitting a red light from within.

They also impersonate Byakuya in Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp and wear a recolored version of his swimsuit, consisting of tight-fitting yellow swim trunks with teal and dark gray side accents, paired with an open white zip-up jacket that has matching teal and gold trim.

Impersonating Byakuya

As an Ultimate Despair

Swimsuit
(Danganronpa S)

As Ryota, the Imposter has short, light brown hair, hazel eyes, and rosy cheeks. They wear a Hope's Peak Academy uniform with a green tie.

As Kyosuke, the Imposter has short white hair and dark purple eyes. They wear a white suit that Kyosuke wears during the events of the Final Killing Game.

Impersonating Ryota

Impersonating Munakata

Personality

Since the Imposter can only exist by impersonating others, they develop a distrustful and skeptical personality, unable to talk to others about their past. They describe this lifestyle as a living hell, as it causes them to both distrust others and be distrusted in return. Although they simply want to live a normal life, they believe they can only do so by assuming someone else's appearance—and that they must "disappear" if ever found out. This compels them to seek acknowledgment by impersonating others, plunging them into a constant need for affirmation. According to Chiaki's understanding, the reason the Imposter continues to live a lie is because impersonating others is their talent—they were bound to it from the moment they were born and have no other option but to keep relying on that talent, whether they want that life or not.

Their yearning for acknowledgment is also why the Imposter does not take offense at Hiyoko Saionji, the Ultimate Traditional Dancer's, rude nickname for them—"Mr. Ham Hands." Instead, they appreciate her honesty, as she took the time to observe them and come up with a nickname based on their physique, one of the few traits that remain consistent regardless of their disguise. In their final Free Time Events, the Imposter is pleasantly surprised and relieved when Hajime affirms that, regardless of their true identity or the fact that they are not the real Byakuya, he still considers them a friend and even expresses genuine liking toward them. It's something they've never heard before but always longed for, convincing them that they truly exist, that their existence is absolute, and strengthening their desire to stop living a lie. In the original Japanese, the Imposter in Byakuya's disguise normally addresses everyone as "omae" (おまえ), which is a rude and somewhat egotistical way of saying "you." However, this facade briefly cracks in this particular moment when they address Hajime with "kimi" (きみ), a friendlier, same-level way of saying "you," before reverting back to "omae" at Hajime's request. Until that time comes, they have to keep relying on their talent, which extends not only to appearance but also to the personalities of the people they impersonate. While disguised as Byakuya, they are arrogant, pushy, and condescending. As Ryota, they appear timid, somewhat asocial, and have a workaholic tendency. Both characters closely mirror the behavior of their original counterparts.

There are moments when glimpses of their true personality bleed through the disguise, or when their interpretation of certain traits slightly deviates from those of the person they are impersonating. These instances frequently occur when they are disguised as Byakuya during the Killing School Trip. While the original Byakuya had an "in it for himself" mindset and seldom engaged in group activities until the later stages of his killing game, the Imposter demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities and a strong sense of responsibility from the get-go. Both also have an arrogant demeanor, but their approaches differ greatly. While the real Byakuya's arrogance presents itself as "I'm better than you" with a player-like mindset, the Imposter's arrogance derives from the conviction that "I'm better than you, which is why I must lead you all so none of you die." It is also revealed that their skeptical nature drives them to take their promise of ensuring no one dies under their leadership seriously. This leads them to organize an all-night party without informing anyone that it's to protect them from a potential murder. Even though they see this trait as a burden for most of their life, they deem it, for once, to be of good use during the killing game—an essential for survival at all costs.

The Imposter's desire to assume leadership originates from their interpretation of Byakuya's past. They admire him as the "most absolute existence" because of his underdog story, defeating hundreds of his siblings to claim the title of Ultimate Affluent Progeny and lead the Togami Corporation. They interpret Byakuya's rise to power as a proof that if he were in a Killing Game, as a superior being he would be naturally inclined to the role of a leader who can unify others under his guidance. In line with this interpretation, Sonia notes that the Imposter is trying to fulfill (what they believe to be Byakuya's) destiny—to stand above others through sheer will and commanding presence—by faithfully emulating his leadership qualities. Though compatible with Byakuya's hubris, this perspective fails to reflect the actual impact of his upbringing. The need to defeat so many siblings made him disdainful of teamwork, cold, self-centered and imbued with a sense of superiority. In contrast to the Imposter's idealized view, the original Byakuya values self-reliance above all else and refuses to cooperate, believing his superiority places him above such efforts, as demonstrated throughout the Killing School Life. As a result, the Imposter adopts Byakuya's condescension, self-confidence, narcissism, and overwhelming presence—so much so that Hajime dubs them the "Ultimate Affluent Protagonist." Yet they don't come across as a bad person; as Hajime frequently notes, their calmness under pressure and composed demeanor make them someone the group can rely on.

The Imposter's compassionate, selfless, and caring nature are what ultimately set them apart from the original Byakuya, becoming core traits of their character that remain evident throughout their time at Hope's Peak and during the Killing School Trip. They impersonate Ryota so that the real one can focus on pursuing his passion for making anime. They further continue to check up on him and care for his well-being even a year later, risking exposure to their secret as an Imposter when they bring Mikan to help care for him as his health deteriorates. As part of their Byakuya impersonation, they act arrogant, rude, and somewhat bad-tempered, but they're also reliable and feel responsible for others' safety. They indiscriminately care for their classmates, all of whom they consider "weak" and "inferior", believing they need to be guided. For example, they express no concern over whether Hajime remembers his talent—as long as he follows their lead, he still "will know peace" and that "everything will turn out fine." Even Fuyuhiko, who refuses to cooperate and threatens to kill others, is told he remains under their protection. They also show only mild irritation and never genuine dislike toward the more chaotic personalities among their classmates. Even Nagito, whom they discover was planning to commit a murder, is protected by them from being killed by Teruteru.

Another core trait of the Ultimate Imposter is their pride in their heavy build, which appears to be intentional, as they've stated they sculpted their physique that way on purpose and become upset when someone suggests they should lose weight. They also have a strong liking for food and are shown to be passionate and knowledgeable about topics related to eating, such as body fat percentages, the energy content of specific foods, nutritional values, different types of meats, and fast food restaurants. They explained that, since virtually all fast food restaurants serve the same kind of food, it gives them a sense of security to keep being around something familiar. They also boast that they can eat more than Akane Owari, the Ultimate Gymnast and fellow foodie, claiming it's due to having "overcome the hardships of the past"—hinting it to be their past outside of their Byakuya disguise. Although their original counterpart isn't as enthusiastic about food, the Imposter conveys this interest by often acting condescending toward skinny people and taking offense when someone eats in a cluttered, vulgar manner, piling food without any sense of theme or principle.

There are two instances where the Ultimate Imposter's true personality is shown while outside of their disguise. One occurs during a game reset sequence at the final trial of the Killing School Trip, where they speak briefly in a more polite manner than when in their disguise. In the original Japanese, they refer to themselves using the more polite pronoun "boku" (僕), instead of Byakuya's casual "ore" (俺). The other instance occurs when they reveal their face for the first time at Hope's Peak, shortly before The Tragedy. They display a collected and serious personality, determined to save their friends, which aligns with their naturally caring nature seen during the Killing School Trip. Despite gaining a better sense of self after the Final Killing Game concludes, they still prefer to remain in disguises (albeit only physically).

Talents and Abilities

Ultimate Imposter

The Ultimate Imposter has no name, permanent address, birth certificate, or anything that could link them with their true identity even their age and sex. Their non-existent identity, however, allows them to exist as anyone by taking other people's data so they could impersonate them flawlessly. This is showcased in their impersonation of Byakuya, as they are able to accurately recount the history of Byakuya Togami and his family's special hereditary system. Moreover, they can perfectly impersonate the person in question's voice, personality, and talent, such as mimicking Byakuya's arrogance and leadership skills, as well as the ability to wield a katana when impersonating Kyosuke. Their imitation ability seems to have no limits based on gender. Although only showcasing their ability to impersonate men, creator Kodaka suggests that the Imposter has the potential to impersonate women, such as Celestia and Aoi.

According to Monokuma, their heavy physique does not affect their ability to fool others. At the beginning of the Killing School Trip, Nagito, who retains knowledge of his classmates' achievements as Ultimates, seemingly cannot differentiate the Ultimate Imposter from the real Byakuya, treating them as the same individual. While attending Hope's Peak, all members of Class 77-B, including Chisa, do not recognize the real Ryota's true appearance. When the real Ryota accidentally meets Chisa, she wonders how he could have lost so much weight in such a short time. It is also thanks to their impersonation of Koichi that they are able to help scout members of Class 77-B, which leads to their talent being recognized by the real Koichi himself, and consequently, they are enrolled in the same class.

In other languages

The Ultimate Imposter's talent as it appears in official translations of Danganronpa material.

Language	Talent	Translation
日本語 Japanese	超高校級の「詐欺師」	Super High School Level Imposter
français French	L'Imposteur Ultime	The Ultimate Imposter	*
L'Escroc Ultime	The Ultimate Con Artist	*
Ultime Fraudeur	Ultimate Fraudster	*

Enhanced Agility

The Ultimate Imposter was designed by the creators to be an agile and nimble individual despite their heavy build. This is showcased during the Killing School Trip, where they move faster than anyone in the group. They are also able to effortlessly dodge all attacks from the Future Foundation during their tenure as a Remnant of Despair.

Free Time Events & Bonus Mode Guides

The links below are full transcripts and in-depth guides for the Ultimate Imposter's relationship routes in Free Time Events, Island Mode, Ultimate Talent Development Plan, and Danganronpa S Development Mode including their MonoMono Machine Present preferences and most effective dialogue options.

Free Time Events	Island Mode	Ultimate Talent Development Plan	Danganronpa S Development Mode

Quotes

• DR2
• Extra
• DR3

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (English)

Prologue:

• "My name is Byakuya Togami..."
• "Move along! That's the only thing you skinny types are good at, it seems."
• "Small dogs shouldn't bark so loud."
• "There's no other choice but to believe...for now, that is."
• "No matter how confused or upset you are, I don't mind. However, remember this... I don't know who in the world is orchestrating this but... We don't need to be cautious of those machines...or even of whoever's controlling them... More than anything, we must be cautious of... ...Ourselves. Being brought to a tropical island with complete strangers, and ordered to kill each other to escape... That creates fear in our minds, and the desire to escape that hopeless fear... ...is our worst enemy."

Chapter 1:

• "Let me say this... Do not even think about copying what I do. This much food is beyond you lowly peasants... I'm the only one who could possibly eat this much food, for I've overcome the hardships of the past..."
• "Why you... Do you have any idea how much money I spent sculpting my physique?"
• "Since it's impossible to face our enemy as individuals under these circumstances, we must fight as a group... However, what we need to achieve that solidarity is not something as easygoing and optimistic as a ..."bond." What we need right now is a disciplined leadership, provided by an unmistakable leader!"
• "Who is more fit to lead other than me? I am the Ultimate Affluent Progeny of the Togami household, destined to stand above all others."
• "Don't worry, as long as I'm the leader, I won't let anyone become a victim. I will guide you all! That much, I promise."
• "This island is full of mysteries that we can't begin to imagine..."
• "You're right... It's mysteries on top of mysteries... However, since these mysteries are overlapping with one another, I doubt some no-name group is behind this..."
• "So what we must do now is find out who our enemy is. If we do that, we'll be that much closer to a breakthrough."
• "There's no time to think about something as foolish as killing each other. You must do what you have to do. Observe, speculate, recognize, comprehend. Even if it seems impossible...just persevere. But most importantly, follow my lead. I'll make sure to return you all to your normal lives. This is your leader's order. Understand?"
• "Why would I get mad at something as petty as that...? She observed me directly and thought up a nickname. There's nothing dishonest about a name like that... Perhaps...I've always yearned for this. Though it may seem ironic for me to realize that in this particular situation..."
• "I do not intend to dismiss your feelings. There was a time when I also thought the same way as you... But what would reckless killing accomplish? If you fail to get away with it, you know you'll be executed... Or perhaps...that's what you really want? If so... You'd only be killing yourself to run away from this predicament. That's what a child would do. Listen! So long as we're here, I will not let any of you die! I will not let any of you become a victim! And that goes for you too, Fuyuhiko. I won't let you die!"
• "It's true my words would ring hollow if anyone else spoke them... But I am Byakuya Togami, and I am destined to bring these promises to fruition."
• "Do what you will. However, remember what I said earlier. "I will not let any of you become a victim." That is the duty I have appointed to myself."
• "Just so you all know... Do not think about unnecessary things. This is your leader's order."
• "If I'm to fulfill the promise I made to not let anyone become a victim, I must be extra vigilant."
• "Distrusting others...and being distrusted in turn... For a long time, my life has been a living hell. It was inevitable that I would end up this way. But in this kind of situation, my skeptical nature might be of good use. If we're to survive here, skepticism is necessary at all costs."
• "When you're as special as me...you get special privileges."
• "Our opponent is not someone we can just fight. Rather, it's better if we use our heads and think of a plan..."

Chapter 5:

• "~|~|d&#wGuidewyou-p^l??u?`+`Fate_jofttheTogamiClan2389" (Byakuya's cottage post-fifth trial)
• "Believe that hope lies beyond this point! That is your leader's order!"

Free Time Events:

• "Be grateful this is a tropical island. If you were somewhere less hospitable, you'd freeze to death."
• "Hmph, how foolish. Do you really think I'd get mad about something like that? A person like me has a responsibility to watch over you weaklings. Besides... as long as I'm here, it doesn't matter what your talent is. As long as Byakuya Togami is in charge, you will all know peace."
• "The Togami Corporation is famous worldwide, but it will grow even more rapidly under my command... You should feel lucky that someone as talented as me is here. Just believe in me. If you do, everything will turn out fine."
• "Just make sure you don't get in my way. A commoner should know their place and stay put. ... However... if there is anything troubling you, I don't mind if you rely on me."
• "The chicken in my hands... is far tastier than the beef inside the freezer... It's a German proverb... It means something inferior that's nearby is better than something good that's far away."
• "The situation surrounding us and this island is even more complicated than I had thought. Even if it's just a commoner's assistance, it's better than having nobody at all..."
• "Even if you don't have your memories, you're still you, right? You are able to live your own life. That is already enough. All you have to do is be yourself. As you stand before me, I... will believe in your potential."
• "Hmph, I can tell just by looking at your face. You need my power, right? As a member of the Togami family, I'm in a position to guide weaklings."
• "If l lived like a beast, I would not be dissatisfied living on this island. However... I am a creature of intellect. I'm a modern person who lives in a new era."
• "You always find the same things waiting for you wherever you go. You'll never know what a relief that truly is... For someone like you who has lived a fortunate life... You'll never understand."
• "If... if by chance everything that's happening here is resolved safely... There's something I would like to tell you. I no longer want to... lie anymore... Not to anyone... Not to anything... not even to myself. I want to live as myself, the person standing before you right now. I've never told anyone this before, but... I want you to hear what I need to say."

Island Mode:

• "It could contain a puzzle, an unsolvable mystery, or even nothing at all. Despite that, as long as I'm Byakuya Togami, I cannot ignore the uncertainty standing before us... That...is what I believe. If you notice anything too, don't keep it to yourself. Tell me."
• "I may not be satisfied with our current situation, but if this really is just a school trip... Then it would be foolish of me to not spend my time as I see fit."
• "Tch... Have you forgotten that I'm Byakuya Togami...? Hajime...don't tell me you're...testing me...?"
• "If you want to have a pointless conversation, find someone pointless to have it with."
• "Meat is certainly superior, but since we're on an uninhabited island, we must not ignore fish either... What fish can we catch? How can we make it delicious? As the heir to the Togami family, I must find out! You should be thankful that you get to help me with this triumph of mine. Now then, let's begin!"
• "I don't mind either way, as long as we eat the appropriate food for this location! Don't dawdle! Immediately go to your post!"
• "Don't tell me you're so childish that you fall asleep after opening a book? Do you really think something like that will ever put us on equal footing?"
• "How can you be bored in the presence of all these books...? I don't know what to even say to you... What in the world did you come here to do then...?"
• "Libraries are truly the best. Noisy people typically don't come here."
• "...How foolish. I don't understand why you would go to the trouble of watching a comedy just so you could laugh. If you want to laugh so badly, just stare your reflection in the mirror."
• "It feels extremely awkward and unsatisfying for two men to come to an amusement park together... In the end, a commoner like you couldn't endure that feeling..."
• "Nevertheless, you're with me. Even if you make a mistake, you won't make a fool of yourself."
• "No matter what surprises await us, don't expect me to cower in fear!"
• "Well... Even if it's a simple, child-like curiosity it's better than having no curiosity at all..."
• "I see... Though it may not be the truth, this is the path I've willingly chosen. I might not even be able to reach my destination unless I'm on this path..."
• "So you're going to give up without even trying? Hmph... A loser will always be a loser. All they can do is crawl around with the rest of their kind."
• "Hmph, only a commoner would think something so shortsighted. Nobody exists who could imitate this Byakuya Togami. Only a coward would use a body double. No matter who my opponent is, I would never run or hide."
• "...Thank you, Hajime. Thank you for making my existence absolute. I mean it..."

Ultimate Talent Development Plan:

• "Even if it seems impossible...just persevere."
• "I will guide you all! That much, I promise."
• "If you care so little for your talent, then it may be best your life didn't revolve around it."
• "To not understand the importance of fat... We will never see eye-to-eye, Byakuya Togami."
• "When you've given the chance to eat to your heart's content, you must make the most of it!"
• "My motives are not so impure, but... Just remember this...I will be the one who stands triumphant."
• "We may both be large, but where I have fat, your body is covered in meat. But don't forget! It's fine to rely on muscles, but in the end, fat is most important."
• "Taka...don't worry about the baton. It is my duty to lead this team to victory. Any failure on your part is simply my failure as a leader. I won't have you blaming yourself."
• "You're proud to be yourself, right? Then stand tall and hold your head high."
• "It's the duty of those on top to make sure those they lead are taken care of."
• "No matter my appearance, it does not change the fact that I am their classmate. That's what I believe..."
• "You should cherish the day you were born."
• "Even if you change your appearance, your talent—your self—will remain."

Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Despair Arc (English)

Episode 02:

• "Well, people like us don't need to group together, anyway. If you have talent, your future is peachy. We're a bunch of elite kids, gathered from across Japan, with that motto. If we just graduate, we're set for life. We have no trials we need to overcome by uniting. No reason to make friends, either." (to Chiaki)

Episode 05:

• "I wouldn't dig through his browser history, but you can't beat Hanamura's cooking. People flake out and let you down, but carbs are always there."
• "It's not easy being talented."
• "But it's pointless if you die before you can save anyone else."
• "This is no time for hesitation."
• "I have no name. No family register, no relatives, nothing. The only thing I have is my talent as an impostor. Using that, I've lived my days in the guise of others."
• "Mitarai, who wanted to shut himself away to make anime. I, who wanted to take his place. Our interests were one and the same."
• "That isn't necessary. I trust my classmates." (to Mikan)
• "As of tomorrow, we'll be upperclassmen. Have more confidence." (to Mikan)

Episode 09:

• "I'll go, too. Because I'm your classmate, as well."
• "For his sake, I don't have the option of just sitting here."
• "When you say that, I get the strange sense you're right."

Episode 11:

• "From now on, I can be anyone I want! I could even become president!"

Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School/Hope Arc (English)

• "You were wrong. But we're with you on that. We were all wrong."

Trivia

• Their title was translated as the Ultimate Swindler instead of Ultimate Imposter in the PC version of the English localization of the second game's ending credits, despite the fact that they were referred to as Imposter earlier in the game.
• In Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School, the voice actor portraying both Ryotas, Kanata Hongō, also portrayed Makoto Naegi in Danganronpa: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei THE STAGE (2014).