Gokusen
The manga was adapted into a three-season television drama, with Yukie Nakama in the title role, which was broadcast on Nippon TV from 2002 to 2008, followed by a , which premiered in 2009. The manga was also adapted into a 13-episode anime television series by Madhouse, which was broadcast on Nippon TV in 2004. The anime series was licensed in North America by Media Blasters. Plot. Kumiko Yamaguchi is the granddaughter of a "yakuza" boss, Kuroda of the Kuroda Ikka. Her parents died when she was at the age of seven, and her grandfather had no other  descendants, so Kumiko is next in line to head the family business with the title of . However, her lifelong dream has been to become a teacher. While her grandfather approves of her choice, others in the family want her to become the next boss. Kumiko becomes home teacher of class 4-2 in mathematics at an all-boys private high school, where she is known as "Yankumi". Her class is full of delinquents, but she tries her hardest to teach them not just academically, but about lessons of life. Though she is forced to keep her family a secret from  the public, her "yakuza" upbringing gives her the strength and the experience to reach out to her students, while also providing comedic situations. Media. Manga. Written and illustrated by Kozueko Morimoto, "Gokusen" was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine "You" from 2000 to 2007. Shueisha collected its chapters in fifteen "wideban" volumes, released from August 23, 2000, to April 19, 2007. A sequel, (or "Gokusen 2008"), was published in "You" from December 28, 2007, to August 1, 2009. These chapters were collected in a single volume, released on January 19, 2010. The first 12-episode season of "Gokusen" was broadcast  in Japan on Nippon TV from April 17 to July 3, 2002. It was followed by a special episode, which aired on March 26, 2003. The theme song is "" by V6. The first season was broadcast with English subtitles in the United States on KSCI in 2003. The second 10-episode season of "Gokusen", "Gokusen 2", was broadcast on Nippon TV from January 15 to March 19, 2005. The theme song is "" by D-51. It also includes an insert song, Drama. , by Kazuya Kamenashi, who portrayed the exclusive drama character Ryū Odagiri. The second season was broadcast with English subtitles  in the United States on KSCI in 2005. The third 11-episode season of "Gokusen", "Gokusen 3", was broadcast on Nippon TV from April 19 to June 28, 2008. It was followed by a special episode, which aired on March 28, 2009. The theme song is by Aqua Timez. It also includes an insert song, , by Hey! Say! JUMP's Yuya Takaki, who portrayed the exclusive drama character Yamato Ogata. Film. The "Gokusen" television drama was followed and concluded by a theatrical film, "Gokusen: The Movie", which premiered in Japan on July 11, 2009. Anime. A 13-episode anime television  series adaptation by Madhouse and directed by Yuzo Sato, was broadcast on Nippon TV from January 7 to March 31, 2004. The opening theme is by Foot Stamp, and the ending theme is by Aki Yashiro. The series was licensed for English release in North America by Media Blasters, who released it on three DVDs, under its Anime Works imprint, from October 12, 2004, to March 1, 2005. The series aired in the United States on Encore WAM in 2006. Reception. The "Gokusen" television drama was popular in Japan. The first season had average viewer ratings of 17.4% in 2002 , while the second season jumped to 28.0% in average ratings in 2005. The last season had average viewer ratings of 22.8%, the highest average rating among other TV dramas that aired around the time. In "The Dorama Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese TV Drama Since 1953", by Jonathan Clements and Motoko Tamamuro, they wrote: ""Gokusen" begins in the style of "GTO", but soon veers off course into a criminal variant of "Romeo and Juliet". Though probably rushed into production in the wake of "The Sopranos", the series has a local pedigree as well, with resemblances to earlier shows such as   and "The Quiet Don"". The anime series was also frequently compared to Tooru Fujisawa's "Great Teacher Onizuka". AnimeNation's John Oppliger wrote that the conflict between Kumiko's "masculine personality" and the Japanese cultural norms, trying to "conform her into a typical contemporary Japanese woman", resulted in an "enjoyable, humorous drama". Oppliger also praised the "subtle elements of yakuza movie", including the "enka" ending animation, which "added an additional level of charm to the show".