I just can’t get enough of Gokusen. In my a Couch Potato blog (previous blog), I’ve mentioned it already when I was still watching its Season 1 and now that I am done with Season 2 there’s no reason why I shouldn’t blog it here because Gokusen is truly a great Japanese Drama. It has a lot of morale or lessons that will really inspire and clutch you. Like the hardships and challenges she has to go through teaching students that are considered “trash” or delinquent and at the same time hiding her identity as the 4th generation heir to the Oedo Group, a notorious Yakuza clan.

And she has surpassed them all and proven to everybody that school is for everyone. Teachers should not only care those who are considered intelligent students but also those students who really need their guidance. Instead of cursing them to death for giving you a headache because of their laziness or whatever it is, give them something to motivate them. To make them realize that school is fun and they should not quit right? I am also touched on what Yamaguchi has been always telling them, “No matter what happens I’ll make sure everyone of you graduates“. Wow!

By the way, here are the synopsis of this beautiful Japanese Series: (taken from Wikipedia)

Season 1:

The story of a young, idealistic teacher who enters Shirokin Gakuen with hopes of making a difference in the students’ lives. However, Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) is in for a rude awakening when she finds that she will be the homeroom teacher of 3-D, the hardest class to maintain in the school. The students have multi-colored hair, sloppy uniforms, and show absolutely no respect to her. The leader of the class, Sawada Shin is lazy but bright and shows some interest in Yamaguchi when he notices that she is very different from other teachers. The students try to bully her to make her quit, but their attempts don’t get them very far.

What the class and the rest of the school does not know is that Yamaguchi Kumiko is actually the 4th generation heir to the Ooedo Group, a notorious yakuza clan. Even though her family would like her to take the title of Ojou when her grandfather dies, they have accepted the fact that Yamaguchi would rather be a teacher. Eventually, the students learn to respect their quirky teacher because of her devotion to them, and even give her a nickname: Yankumi.

Season 2:

Half a year has passed and Shirokin Gakuen has closed down. Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) finds herself a teacher of a few young kids who don’t really benefit much from her style of teaching. Through some twist of fate, she is offered a job as a teacher in Kurogin Gakuen.

She becomes the teacher of a delinquent 3D class which make her previous students look like angels. In order to protect her job, she must again hide her true identity — the fact that she is the 4th generation of the Oedo Family, a prominent yakuza group.

Trivia: Nakama Yukie (Yamaguchi/Yankumi/Ojou) won Best Actress in both seasons of Gokusen. The other lead roles namely Matsumoto Jun from Season 1 as well as Kazuya Kamenashi won as best actors also. See? Oh, before I forgot if you are ever wondering what is the meaning of Gokusen it is actually an abbreviation of Gokudo no Sensei which means Gangster Teacher.

I love the song, the music video and of course the singer! Aya Ueto really impresses me. She is not only beautiful but also talented. She can sing, she can dance and of course she can act. Not to mention her great performances in Azumi and Azumi 2: Death or Love and as Kozue in the famous Jdrama entitled “Attack no.1″. The latter, i finished watching its 11 episodes the other day but i will just have to check out her other JDrama entitled “Ace o Nerae” and compared the two okay? Well, as a recommendation again for you to watch.

Anyways, Yume no chikara is actually the official theme song in “Attack no.1″. A beautiful song! I know you will love her music video so you better check it out now. Ang cute niya talaga! Jaaahhh..hook na hook na talaga ako sa Japanese stuff!

P.S. I don’t really know the meaning of this song but I’m pretty sure it conveys a positive message. I am still a novice to Nihongo words. Still learning and lovin’ the language. By the way if you know how to translate the lyrics of the song, feel free to drop by a message.

School is back and I bet a lot of teachers especially students are now excited. For some, classes had just started last June 5 but for others it will be this coming Tuesday because tomorrow will be Independence Day.

Anyways, why I am talking such thing in this post? Well, I would like to commend to all of you a Japanese series that would inspire or somehow give you a good outlook when it comes to studying or schooling. This series is also good for all teachers out there. Whether you are an aspiring teacher, new teacher or perhaps a teacher already tired of your job. You know like doing those routines for a low pay and all that stuff. Am I right? Okay, I will not be beating around the bush anymore.

Watch The Queen’s Classroom if you have time. This is quite the same with two great Japanese series namely Great Teacher Onizuka (GT0) and Gokusen because they all talk about the life and experiences of being a sensei or a teacher as well as the memories they have shared to their students. But what is so nice or interesting about The Queen’s classroom is the different kind of approach Maya (the sensei) is giving to teach students about life and everything that comes into it. She is not like the “heroic” type here compared to GTO and Gokusen because her students hate her so much. She is like a devilish teacher. She is some kind of weird also because she wears an entire black attire in going to class. And that you should find out the reason why.

When you watch this series be sure to finish the 11 episodes and the two specials. I’m pretty sure you will love it. You can just check out The Queen’s Classroom on Crunchyroll. If you feel like watching now, here is the link. I also hope and wish GMA-7 or ABS-CBN will invest their money on this series. This is really a great Japanese series. You get a lot of lessons from watching The Queen’s Classroom. It will help you re-evaluate yourself as a student, as a teacher and as a total human individual. There are a lot of good lines you can see on this series and one of them which i really like is when Maya (Amami Yuki) said that she will never quit as a teacher because when you become one, you can create miracles. Whew!

Gokusen is the third Jdorama I have watched. I am now in the Episode 9 of this series. So far, everything is doing great. Gokusen is quite the same with GTO because this is also a story of a teacher and delinquent students.

I finished watching the whole episodes of Nobuta wo Produce last night and it was just fantastic! Whew! A very refreshing story because I am already sick of the usual Filipino drama. Same old concept and copycats kasi eh. (Forgive me for that).

Anyways, just want to share you guys the part where I was so touched on how Akira proclaim how he truly love Nobuta. Though he is still shy to confess it but at least he shouted and did this unusual thing. (Sighed)

I will just have to tell you the scene: Akira asked Shuji to come with him to school. There was no class that time so they were the only two persons around. Akira went to the office where you page something, do record, film and stuff like that. He was on air and with the microphone with him he shouted: “Nobuta, I love you“.

Akira continued and said the following:

I like the book that you read. I like the sidewalk you walk. I like the top floor where you are. I like everywhere where you are. I love it. So so, I’ll sing for Nobuta.

Shuji was listening the whole time. He was walking, passing by different classrooms while listening to Akira’s shy confession. He was even more suprised when Akira sang. Oh gossh, Akira is madly inlove! Nobuta is such a lucky girl.

Jaahhh..what if you find someone who is madly inlove with you? What a bliss! especially if you like the guy also. Hmmmnn…I hope I was able to describe it well to you guys on how I find this scene so romantic. You should really watch Nobuta Wo Produce. Definitely a MUST SEE!!!

I am currently hooked to Japanese films and series. I am just so impressed with their works! I’ve watched Great Teacher Onizuka, Nobody Knows and now Nobuta Wo Produce. I am still in the Episode 5 of Nobuta Wo Produce and I’m loving it! Hehehehhehehee….

Finished watching this Japanese film – Nobody Knows.

I actually read an entry of a blogger about this movie while I did some blog hopping. He said that among the 10 movies he had seen for a week this one is his best choice. So, I searched it on Crunchyroll and my mother and I watched it.

This movie was first shown in the year 2004. The story is all about the four children left or abandoned by their mother. Have to survive life at a young age.

The story begins with the family moving in a different apartment. The single mother pretended that she has only one son but the two other children were hidden in the luggage while the other was waiting in station or terminal to be fetched during the night. They come from different fathers. They seem to be a happy family at first. The children are so obedient about the rules because the landlord might catch them. But when her mother got a new boyfriend and leave them with just a note and small amount of money, Akira being the oldest have to take good care of his siblings.

They were cut from the water supply, gas and electricity. The landlord was even wondering why they still have not able to pay their rent.  Akira couldn’t work because he is still 12 years old. He just gets food from the one being given by the store. They just go to the park to fetch water, pee and wash their clothes. There was even a time when they were so hungry. His younger sister, Yuki eats paper. An accident also happen when Yuki fell from the chair and died. They have to put her on the luggage again and buried her.

The story is so sad but there were no crying moments compared to Filipino movies. You can just see the character’s feelings or emotions from their face and how they react. It is a silent movie actually. Less talking and a bit slow in the phasing of story but it’s apt. There was only one musical background that I could remember and it was when Akira and his friend Saki return from the airport after they have buried Yuki. (It was the wish of Yuki to see the airport).

I was hoping for a happy ending but was never expecting because it is a sad story. I was wondering what will happen to them after Yuki died. Medyo bitin talaga but it was good enough. It was my first time to see a different attack/presentation of a certain movie. Quite impressive!

I give this movie 4/5!