Shota Aizawa, hero name Eraserhead, is the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A at UA High School in My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi. His Quirk, Erasure, allows him to nullify other people's Quirks by looking at them. He is known for his apathetic demeanor, his yellow sleeping bag, and his willingness to expel students he deems unfit. Despite his harsh exterior, he is fiercely protective of his students and repeatedly risks his life for them.

What Is Aizawa's Quirk?

Erasure allows Aizawa to nullify any Quirk of a person he looks at, as long as his eyes remain open. The effect ends when he blinks. This Quirk is especially effective against emitter-type and transformation-type Quirks but does not affect mutation-type Quirks (physical mutations that are always active). Extended use causes dry eye, and Aizawa wears goggles to hide which opponent he is targeting. After sustaining injuries during the USJ incident, his Quirk has reduced effectiveness due to eye damage.

What Happened at USJ?

During the USJ (Unforeseen Simulation Joint) attack in Season 1, the League of Villains invaded the training facility where Class 1-A was practicing. Aizawa fought dozens of villains simultaneously while protecting his students, then engaged Nomu — a bioengineered creature designed to counter All Might. Aizawa sustained severe injuries including a fractured orbital floor, broken arm, and facial lacerations. Despite these injuries, he continued fighting until reinforcements arrived. This event established Aizawa as one of the most dedicated heroes in the series.

Did Aizawa Really Expel an Entire Class?

Yes. In his previous year of teaching, Aizawa expelled all students in his homeroom class because he judged them to lack the potential to become heroes. This is referenced multiple times in the series. His threat to expel the lowest-performing student on Class 1-A's first day is partially a bluff (a logical ruse to motivate maximum effort) but his willingness to follow through is genuine.

What Is Aizawa's Relationship With His Students?

Despite his harsh teaching methods, Aizawa is deeply invested in his students' development and safety. He has risked his life for them on multiple occasions, makes significant personal sacrifices to protect them, and advocates for them against institutional pressure. His teaching philosophy combines high expectations with genuine care — he pushes students beyond their limits because he believes they can handle it, and he protects them when they cannot.

Can You Talk to Aizawa?

Shota Aizawa is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. He is in his sleeping bag. He is also paying closer attention to you than you realize.