Makoto lived a normal life with his parents and little sister, Komaru. They also had a dog during his childhood. Although sometimes he didn't get along with his sister, he had a close relationship with Komaru. The two watched TV and shared thoughts on manga together.
In a typical day with Makoto and his family, his mother would always watch the same talk show at lunchtime, and his dad wouldn't shave his beard on Saturday when he didn't have work.
In middle school, Makoto went to Blackroot Junior High with Sayaka Maizono, however he was in class 2 while Sayaka was in class 4. He found a lost crane and rescued it; this act of kindness caught her attention, and that was how she remembers him even years later. It's implied that Makoto had a crush on her, but they never talked due to them being in different social standards. Later, he went to Dusk High School.
Makoto had normal school, normal friends, and a normal family. He was pretty much the textbook example of a normal high school student.
Makoto was selected to attend Hope's Peak Academy's Class 78th through winning a random lottery, and on August 20, 2010 (2013 in the anime), Makoto visited a forum and looked up information about his future classmates.
