"Gokusen" goes from manga to TV series to feature film

by Chris MaGee

As my good friend, Robyn, who worked in the Japanese film industry for many years said to me, "There's a formula in Japan. First you have a manga, then you have a TV show, then you have a movie," and once agin we have this formula being followed to a T with the "Gokusen". Started up by creator Kozueko Morimoto as a manga in You Magazine in 2000 the story of Kumiko Yamaguchi, the granddaughter of a yakuza boss and a teacher at a boy's private school became popular enough with readers that in 2005 Nippon Television turned it into a live-action series starring Yukie Nakama as Kumiko. Now, after three successful seasons the top-rated show will be turned into a feature film. Big surprise, huh?

According to a report posted at Tokyograph today the film, to be helmed by series director Toya Sato, carries over from the cliffhanger that ended season three in which the thrid year students and the second year students were about to clash... over what I'm not sure, but we can safely assume that Yamaguchi Sensei is probably going to open up a can of old-fashioned yakuza whoop-ass to put a stop to it.

"Gokusen: The Movie" is set to be released in Japanese theatres this July. Until then you can check out some clips from the TV series below courtesy of YouTube.