I've compiled a list of latest Japanese school dramas. These dramas were aired from Winter 2010 to Winter 2015. No Gokusen series even though I really wanted to include it!
This list will only include dramas which are:
- not only mainly set in a school but actually tackles problems in a school system, a disagreement between students, or students having trust issues with teachers.
- series and not special dramas with only one or two episodes.
This will not include dramas which are:
- mainly set in a school but centers on romance, mystery, or any other genre than school.
- Asadora and Taiga dramas.
- SPs aired in a season.
And of course, I will only include dramas which piques my interest.
While I can promise that I'll do my best to categorize the dramas, I cannot promise that it'll be perfect as categorizing some of them can be really confusing. The dramas I haven't watched yet are even more confusing to categorize. I might edit this post if sometime in the future, I think a drama fits another genre more. If you would like to suggest that a drama fits a certain genre more than where I included it, feel free to comment so I can take it into consideration.
- not only mainly set in a school but actually tackles problems in a school system, a disagreement between students, or students having trust issues with teachers.
- series and not special dramas with only one or two episodes.
This will not include dramas which are:
- mainly set in a school but centers on romance, mystery, or any other genre than school.
- Asadora and Taiga dramas.
- SPs aired in a season.
And of course, I will only include dramas which piques my interest.
While I can promise that I'll do my best to categorize the dramas, I cannot promise that it'll be perfect as categorizing some of them can be really confusing. The dramas I haven't watched yet are even more confusing to categorize. I might edit this post if sometime in the future, I think a drama fits another genre more. If you would like to suggest that a drama fits a certain genre more than where I included it, feel free to comment so I can take it into consideration.
Japanese School Dramas
Majisuka Gakuen (Winter 2010)
"Two transfer students, Atsuko Maeda and Onizuka Daruma came at the all-girls school Majisuka Gakuen. In this school, violence and fighting are common among the Yankee students. Noisy and trouble maker Daruma made a fuss as soon as she entered the school, win in her first fight but then was beaten easily by another gang shortly after. In contrary to Daruma's bold-but-powerless attitude, Maeda who is truthfully a strong girl despite of her silent nature found Daruma is beaten by Team Hormon before her. The word "Majisuka?" (means are you serious?) instantly awaken her true nature and made her won the battle against Daruma's attackers easily, thus made a big fuss at the school and the news even reached the strongest fighting group, Rappapa. Afterwards, Daruma acknowledged Maeda as her boss and as a result the friendship between the two girls began to grow along with their fights with fellow students at their school." (from dramawiki)
I don't know what's with this drama. I tried watching a few episodes. The theme is okay, I'm fine with angst/yankee dramas but I found this one annoying somehow. Let me tell you that I like AKB48, I'm not their biggest fan but I like them that's why I gave this drama a shot. It is probably because everyone is trying hard to act. People may be able to act certain roles but it's pretty obvious the AKB48 members have very limited acting abilities during the time this was aired. This having a not-so-interesting storyline and mediocre acting from the cast probably made it worse. I didn't say the girls cannot improve their acting, I believe they can. I want to see how this goes on until the recent 4th installment, so I'm still considering to watch this one of these days. I hope the storyline has gotten more bearable and the acting of the girls have somehow improved.
HAMMER SESSION! (Summer 2010)
"Two prisoners managed to escaped after the police truck carrying them crashed. One of them is a gangster. The other called "Otowa Yonko", our protagonist, is a con artist who cheats money from criminals or terrorists. Accidentally, "Otowa Yonko" then becomes the new teacher for the nearby school, under the new name "Hachisuka Goro", and according to a deal of "Hammer Session" with the headmaster." (from dramawiki)
Aside from the interesting plot, this drama has a set of interesting cast members. By the time I watched this a few years ago, I only know Mokomichi Hayami, Shida Mirai and Ishiguro Hideo. Looking at the student list now, it seems this has been a starting step for other actors and actresses(that are of almost the same age as Shida Mirai) to carve their acting careers. Suda Masaki, Irie Jingi, Nomura Shuhei, Ryusei Ryo, Sakamoto Shogo, Takeuchi Toshi, and Yamashita Rio are all part of the cast and they are now quite active in the industry. Back to HAMMER SESSION!, there were a few boring episodes, but over all I like the drama.
Aside from the interesting plot, this drama has a set of interesting cast members. By the time I watched this a few years ago, I only know Mokomichi Hayami, Shida Mirai and Ishiguro Hideo. Looking at the student list now, it seems this has been a starting step for other actors and actresses(that are of almost the same age as Shida Mirai) to carve their acting careers. Suda Masaki, Irie Jingi, Nomura Shuhei, Ryusei Ryo, Sakamoto Shogo, Takeuchi Toshi, and Yamashita Rio are all part of the cast and they are now quite active in the industry. Back to HAMMER SESSION!, there were a few boring episodes, but over all I like the drama.
Misaki Number One!! (Winter 2011)
"One day all of a sudden, Misaki, the number one hostess of a club in Roppongi becomes a high school teacher! Of all classes, she is appointed as the homeroom teacher for Class 2Z, a special class for the troublemakers at the school. But with her positive power, she takes the students head-on, without ever giving up!" (from dramawiki)
A little like Gokusen, in the aspect that the students aren't supposed to know about her background. But since Misaki has a completely different background than Gokusen's Yankumi, it's interesting on how she'll manage to open up the hearts of her students in her own way. I like this drama. Kitayama Hiromitsu and Fujigaya Taisuke are part of the cast! How nice is that? I like Karina, she's one of my top 10 Japanese girl crushes! I like Oomasa Aya as well. I would like to re-watch this one and concentrate on finding Fukushi Sota though. I'm surprised that he was a part of the cast.
A little like Gokusen, in the aspect that the students aren't supposed to know about her background. But since Misaki has a completely different background than Gokusen's Yankumi, it's interesting on how she'll manage to open up the hearts of her students in her own way. I like this drama. Kitayama Hiromitsu and Fujigaya Taisuke are part of the cast! How nice is that? I like Karina, she's one of my top 10 Japanese girl crushes! I like Oomasa Aya as well. I would like to re-watch this one and concentrate on finding Fukushi Sota though. I'm surprised that he was a part of the cast.
SCHOOL!! (Winter 2011)
"The drama evolves around a public elementary school beset with problems. Eguchi plays the passionate protagonist, who worked at construction sites for 20 years with a mid-sized general contractor. However, in order to keep a promise he made with his former teacher, he suddenly changes jobs and becomes the principal of his old school, which he must save from closing down." (from dramawiki)
This doesn't really interest me, I haven't watched it nor have I tried watching an episode. I am not really interested with kids or the lead actor. However, I might watch this for Miura Shohei and Kitano Kie if ever I find some free time. I like those two so I'm not completely erasing the possibility that I'll watch this one.
This doesn't really interest me, I haven't watched it nor have I tried watching an episode. I am not really interested with kids or the lead actor. However, I might watch this for Miura Shohei and Kitano Kie if ever I find some free time. I like those two so I'm not completely erasing the possibility that I'll watch this one.
Majisuka Gakuen 2 (Spring 2011)
"The story continues in the next school year after the events of the last season. The new members of Rappapa now face an even greater threat from within their own school and the surrounding schools." (from dramawiki)
It would be interesting to see if the AKB girls have upped their acting after a year. They have a tendency to overact and ruin a scene with that. I would love it if the girls act together in a drama with a more decent and engaging storyline though.
Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou (Spring 2012)
"A boys high school full of delinquents gets merged with an elite girls high school." (from dramawiki)
I'm not being bias here but I am so proud of the Bakaleya boys. Aside from Morimoto Shintaro and Takaki Yuya, the other five - Lewis Jesse, Matsumura Hokuto, Yugo Kouchi, Kyomoto Taiga, and Tanaka Juri, can all be branded as newbies when Bakaleya was aired. But, they really proved their worth and just put their AKB counterparts in the shadows. I know the Cattleya girls are fairly new as well since they are the younger ones in AKB48 that time but the Bakaleya boys are not even debuted idols yet. The AKB girls didn't overact this time, but they were lacking in emotions instead. I can forgive that since they are new to acting but I hope I don't see the awkwardness in their faces while trying to convey emotions. Paruru is one to note on this, she's so awkward, even she just simply walking felt awkward. On another note, the story is nice because it isn't just all angst. It has a core which I think Majisuka Gakuen somehow lacks in. I love the cast, of course. Too much eyecandy we have here. I actually hope there's more opportunity for AKB48 and Johnnys to collaborate like this and with great plots of course, we need that. P.S. I love the theme song Shake It Up!
It would be interesting to see if the AKB girls have upped their acting after a year. They have a tendency to overact and ruin a scene with that. I would love it if the girls act together in a drama with a more decent and engaging storyline though.
Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou (Spring 2012)
I'm not being bias here but I am so proud of the Bakaleya boys. Aside from Morimoto Shintaro and Takaki Yuya, the other five - Lewis Jesse, Matsumura Hokuto, Yugo Kouchi, Kyomoto Taiga, and Tanaka Juri, can all be branded as newbies when Bakaleya was aired. But, they really proved their worth and just put their AKB counterparts in the shadows. I know the Cattleya girls are fairly new as well since they are the younger ones in AKB48 that time but the Bakaleya boys are not even debuted idols yet. The AKB girls didn't overact this time, but they were lacking in emotions instead. I can forgive that since they are new to acting but I hope I don't see the awkwardness in their faces while trying to convey emotions. Paruru is one to note on this, she's so awkward, even she just simply walking felt awkward. On another note, the story is nice because it isn't just all angst. It has a core which I think Majisuka Gakuen somehow lacks in. I love the cast, of course. Too much eyecandy we have here. I actually hope there's more opportunity for AKB48 and Johnnys to collaborate like this and with great plots of course, we need that. P.S. I love the theme song Shake It Up!
GTO 2012 (Summer 2012)
"Through the introduction of his friend Danma Ryuji, Onizuka Eikichi, the former legendary bike gang member, visits Meishu Academy to tend to the trees in the garden as a part-time gardener. Learning that Yoshikawa Noboru, a student in teacher Fuyutsuki Azusa's class is being bullied by Uehara Kyoko and other classmates, Onizuka befriends and saves Yoshikawa. Seeing Onizuka's unprecedented but visceral, powerful response to problem solving, the school's president and principal Sakurai Yoshiko, overrides resistance from her vice principal Uchiyamada Hiroshi and makes Onizuka a teacher. Onziuka goes on to tackle many issues as the teacher in charge of the most problematic class, Class 2-4." (from dramawiki)I haven't watched this one, and I don't know why. Lol. The cast is interesting enough to encourage me to watch this since we have Takimoto Miori, Yamamoto Yusuke, Shirota Yu, Takada Sho, Morimoto Shintaro, Nishiuchi Mariya, Honda Tsubasa, Nakagawa Taishi, and Yamada Yuki. I should really prioritize this one. Maybe the reason why I haven't watched this is my lingering bitterness feeling. Why? It's because the first choice to be Onizuka was Akanishi Jin but because he was suspended that time for his shotgun marriage, he couldn't get the part. The tour he was supposed to have that time was already cancelled, why did the drama had to be cancelled as well? Now, I really miss Jin acting. :( That aside, I'm still looking forward to watching this remake.
Kasuka na Kanojo (Spring 2013)
"Junior high school teacher Kamiyama Akira has the ability to sense ghosts, and his new school has a ghost named Akane who used to be a teacher." (from dramawiki) Note: Akane is not really at school though, she's a ghost in Akira's new apartment.
This drama is very entertaining, it's not just repeat scenarios with a teacher dealing with students at their rebellious age. I guess the aspect that makes it more engaging is the presence of the ghost stuff, it adds not only comedy but most importantly mystery, that provides more foundation to the story. This is very interesting for me as well because of the familiar members of the cast. I really adore Katori Shingo's portrayal of Akira, and I love him more than ever after watching this drama. Maeda Atsuko's acting has improved a lot and I'm happy she's getting enough acting roles so she can improve her acting more. Anne, however, has always been awkward for me. She may be getting a lot of praise from others, her acting is okay, but there's something about her that irks me and I feel awkward watching her. I'm happy Morimoto Shintaro, Iwahashi Genki, Jinguji Yuta, Honoka Miki, Hirose Suzu and Yamamoto Maika are part of the class. I almost hated Yamamoto Maika with the role she portrays but I guess my liking to her (which she gained when I watched the drama 49) is enough to hold my anger. And, I'm so proud of her because it just means she can take on various roles effectively. Matsui Kenta is a discovery for me, he's such an ikemen in the making! I'm looking forward to the future projects of the students in this drama, they're all so young and have bright futures!
"Junior high school teacher Kamiyama Akira has the ability to sense ghosts, and his new school has a ghost named Akane who used to be a teacher." (from dramawiki) Note: Akane is not really at school though, she's a ghost in Akira's new apartment.This drama is very entertaining, it's not just repeat scenarios with a teacher dealing with students at their rebellious age. I guess the aspect that makes it more engaging is the presence of the ghost stuff, it adds not only comedy but most importantly mystery, that provides more foundation to the story. This is very interesting for me as well because of the familiar members of the cast. I really adore Katori Shingo's portrayal of Akira, and I love him more than ever after watching this drama. Maeda Atsuko's acting has improved a lot and I'm happy she's getting enough acting roles so she can improve her acting more. Anne, however, has always been awkward for me. She may be getting a lot of praise from others, her acting is okay, but there's something about her that irks me and I feel awkward watching her. I'm happy Morimoto Shintaro, Iwahashi Genki, Jinguji Yuta, Honoka Miki, Hirose Suzu and Yamamoto Maika are part of the class. I almost hated Yamamoto Maika with the role she portrays but I guess my liking to her (which she gained when I watched the drama 49) is enough to hold my anger. And, I'm so proud of her because it just means she can take on various roles effectively. Matsui Kenta is a discovery for me, he's such an ikemen in the making! I'm looking forward to the future projects of the students in this drama, they're all so young and have bright futures!
35-sai no Koukousei (Spring 2013)
"Yonekura Ryoko plays a 35-year old woman who mysteriously goes back to high school as a student." (from dramawiki)
A pretty rare scenario where an adult shares time with teens but not as a teacher but also a student like them. This drama has a mystery to it too and the interactions between Yonekura Ryoko's and Mizobata Junpei's roles are quite fun and interesting. Great members of the class as well - Kojima Fujiko, Shinkawa Yua, Suda Masaki, Nishii Yukito, Nomura Shuhei, Hirose Alice, Morikawa Aoi, and Yamazaki Kento(who is currently storming dramas and films with his charm). They are around 2 to 3 years older than the class members in Kasuka na Kanojo so this is a more experienced batch.
A pretty rare scenario where an adult shares time with teens but not as a teacher but also a student like them. This drama has a mystery to it too and the interactions between Yonekura Ryoko's and Mizobata Junpei's roles are quite fun and interesting. Great members of the class as well - Kojima Fujiko, Shinkawa Yua, Suda Masaki, Nishii Yukito, Nomura Shuhei, Hirose Alice, Morikawa Aoi, and Yamazaki Kento(who is currently storming dramas and films with his charm). They are around 2 to 3 years older than the class members in Kasuka na Kanojo so this is a more experienced batch.
Kamen Teacher (Summer 2013)
"20XX. The teachers are no longer allowed to mete out corporal punishment and disciplinary actions. Due to that, the teachers have lots their powers, and the students are now all running wild. In order to correct the situation, the government decides to put in place a program to control the delinquent students by dispatching special teachers to schools across the nation. One of them is Araki Gota, on whom the government pin their hopes that under this Kamen(Masked) teacher program, he will be able to reign in all the delinquent students in his class.
Gota's new assignment is Kakuu Gakuin's Year 2 Class C, where the students are violent and out of control. The class is ruled by M4, a group of four students led by Takehara Kinzo. On his first day, even though he is punched and kicked by M4, Gota refuses to retaliate in kind. He doesn't want to rely on the power of the mask, but rather, he wants to win the trust of the students so that they can communicate freely with him.
However, the students in his classare so unruly and violent that in the end he still has to resort to the mask in order to control them. To change another person, will it be strength? Or heart?" (from dramawiki)
The uniqueness this time is that our lead is a masked teacher. I haven't watched this one yet, so at present, I have no idea on how our masked teacher will help the students but I would like to give this drama a try to find out for myself. Love the cast too, Fujigaya Taisuke and Oomasa Aya acting together again. Kikuchi Fuma, Lewis Jesse, Kyomoto Taiga, and Kishi Yuta, these babies who are actually not babies anymore are part of the cast as well! We have Maeda Goki and one of my favorites from the younger generation, Yamamoto Maika.
Gota's new assignment is Kakuu Gakuin's Year 2 Class C, where the students are violent and out of control. The class is ruled by M4, a group of four students led by Takehara Kinzo. On his first day, even though he is punched and kicked by M4, Gota refuses to retaliate in kind. He doesn't want to rely on the power of the mask, but rather, he wants to win the trust of the students so that they can communicate freely with him.
However, the students in his classare so unruly and violent that in the end he still has to resort to the mask in order to control them. To change another person, will it be strength? Or heart?" (from dramawiki)
The uniqueness this time is that our lead is a masked teacher. I haven't watched this one yet, so at present, I have no idea on how our masked teacher will help the students but I would like to give this drama a try to find out for myself. Love the cast too, Fujigaya Taisuke and Oomasa Aya acting together again. Kikuchi Fuma, Lewis Jesse, Kyomoto Taiga, and Kishi Yuta, these babies who are actually not babies anymore are part of the cast as well! We have Maeda Goki and one of my favorites from the younger generation, Yamamoto Maika.
GTO 2014 (Summer 2014)
"Onizuka Eikichi goes from Meishu Academy in Kichijoji to his alma mater Tsujido High School in his hometown of Shonan. Tsujido High School has gone under the umbrella of Meishu Academy and Onizuka is dispatched on a temporary basis. This time, various difficult problems such as a pregnant female high school student, a truant student who makes light of life, a male stalker and radical images happen to him. Onizuka's unknown past is also finally revealed as he meets people who know about his past again." (from dramawiki)
The students are not as established as the one from GTO 2012, I could say a lot of them are still newbies, it would be great if they carried out their roles well. Of course, I haven't watched this one either, but I'm taking note that Horii Arata, Kikuchi Fuma, Ryusei Ryo, and Miyoshi Ayaka, are the ones I'm familiar with among the students. Miyoshi Ayaka was great in Lost Days, so I want to see how she was with this one.
"Onizuka Eikichi goes from Meishu Academy in Kichijoji to his alma mater Tsujido High School in his hometown of Shonan. Tsujido High School has gone under the umbrella of Meishu Academy and Onizuka is dispatched on a temporary basis. This time, various difficult problems such as a pregnant female high school student, a truant student who makes light of life, a male stalker and radical images happen to him. Onizuka's unknown past is also finally revealed as he meets people who know about his past again." (from dramawiki)The students are not as established as the one from GTO 2012, I could say a lot of them are still newbies, it would be great if they carried out their roles well. Of course, I haven't watched this one either, but I'm taking note that Horii Arata, Kikuchi Fuma, Ryusei Ryo, and Miyoshi Ayaka, are the ones I'm familiar with among the students. Miyoshi Ayaka was great in Lost Days, so I want to see how she was with this one.
Majisuka Gakuen 4 (Winter 2014)
"Majisuka High is an all-girls school that is full of delinquents and is constructed of dysfunctional classrooms that have no discipline whatsoever. There is constant physical fighting within the school, walls sprayed with graffiti, and students take naps on the littered floors of the school. But here in this jungle, a group of girls called the "Rappapa" are the claimed leaders as they have won their position by fist. Being the strongest in fist fights is indeed the social currency at this deteriorating school. The leader of the Rappapa pack is Salt; she reigns as the queen of the chaotic hierarchy. But one day, a new student, Sakura is transferred to Majisuka High with an aim to overthrow Salt and take over the school. At first glance, she she looks like a student who would make the honor roll, vulnerable, and easily beatable. Yet, when the second year groupie, Team Hinabe, picks a fight with her, they found out that she is someone who should not be trifled with at all!" (from dramawiki)
Same thoughts as what I stated for Majisuka Gakuen 2. I know most of the girls are fairly young, because a lot from the older generation already graduated from the group. I just hope Paruru's acting is not as awkward anymore!
Note: I'm not including Majisuka Gakuen 3 in here because it's not even set in a school. It has a different setting.
Same thoughts as what I stated for Majisuka Gakuen 2. I know most of the girls are fairly young, because a lot from the older generation already graduated from the group. I just hope Paruru's acting is not as awkward anymore!
Note: I'm not including Majisuka Gakuen 3 in here because it's not even set in a school. It has a different setting.
Gakkou no Kaidan (Winter 2015)
"Haruna Tsubame, an inconspicuous high school girl, is always sensitive to people's moods and keeps the peace in school. One day, she gets pushed to become the president of the student council by the people around her. Tsubame's encounterwith a man who is a genius speechwriter, leads to a revolution in school. She struggles to change a school full of irrationality and dissatisfaction with the power of words." (from dramawiki)
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, one of the best dramas in Winter 2015! XD :) Kamiki Ryunosuke sure learned a lot from his mentor Sakurai Sho who played the role of Yoshimoto Koya in Kazoku Game. Though the similarities are there, Kamiki has put his touch to it and made it his own. I commend Kamiki for remembering all those long lines when this is not even a detective drama which usually has long lines! I applaud Hirose Suzu as well for that. The two really did well! They have so much chemistry together! And how I hope these two make another drama together that centers more on romance! This drama really showcased both of their talents though. I'm so shipping this pairing! And, how can Hirose Suzu be so pretty? Lol. But really, everyone should watch this drama and go crazy! XD :)
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, one of the best dramas in Winter 2015! XD :) Kamiki Ryunosuke sure learned a lot from his mentor Sakurai Sho who played the role of Yoshimoto Koya in Kazoku Game. Though the similarities are there, Kamiki has put his touch to it and made it his own. I commend Kamiki for remembering all those long lines when this is not even a detective drama which usually has long lines! I applaud Hirose Suzu as well for that. The two really did well! They have so much chemistry together! And how I hope these two make another drama together that centers more on romance! This drama really showcased both of their talents though. I'm so shipping this pairing! And, how can Hirose Suzu be so pretty? Lol. But really, everyone should watch this drama and go crazy! XD :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the photos included in this post. They were all from the linked dramawiki pages, credits goes to the owners of the promotional photos.
