The New GTO Drama Series
Airu Ikumi has been chosen to play the heroine in the new drama "GTO" based on the original work by Tooru Fujisawa. She will play the role of Mio Kashiwabara, the assistant homeroom teacher of the class that is taught by Eikichi Onizuka, played by Takashi Sorimachi.
The Storyline and Characters
"GTO" is a school drama in which Onizuka, a teacher with a unique background as a former motorcycle gang member, uses an unconventional style that overturns the traditional image of a teacher and confronts problems with students and the school head-on. A drama version starring Sorimachi was broadcast in 1998. In addition, a special drama ``GTO Revival'' will be produced in 2024, bringing together the original cast, including Sorimachi. In the completely new drama series starting July 20th, Onizuka, now 52 years old, will face the ``reiwa education scene'', set at Makoto High School, a private high school where all information and evaluations are managed by data.
Kashiwara, played by Ikumi, is an excellent teacher who is rational, emphasizes efficiency, and can handle everything smoothly. On the other hand, he prioritized not causing trouble, kept a certain distance from his students and colleagues, and avoided showing his emotions. Kashiwara has a somewhat cold attitude toward Onizuka, saying things like, ``You can do whatever you like. Your homeroom teacher is Onizuka-sensei.'' As he confronts Onizuka, Kashiwara's ``how to be a teacher'' and ``preparedness to deal with students'' are questioned.
Comments from the Cast
Comments have also arrived from Ikumi. Ikumi, who had been watching reruns of past episodes, expressed his joy and surprise, saying, ``I was surprised and thought, ``Are you sure it was going to be me?'' and I was very happy. When I watched it in my youth, I wanted to play the role of a student, but I never thought I'd move beyond that and play the role of a teacher (lol).''
