GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka

Cast:
Sorimachi Takashi
Matsushima Nanako
Nakao Akira


GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka) is another school-based and teacher-student depiction that I should probably be fed up of. I mean, it's a very conventional attempt to try to explore the confused state of a young mind. Even in the Philippines, we have had our share of sentimental bulk of the widening gap of the young and old. But this manga-anime turned live action series will make you think about the CON in convention.

Eikichi Onizuka is an aspiring teacher despite graduating from a third grade university and being a member of a biker gang. He seems to be a very calm and nonchalant person who spends most of his days eyeing for attractive legs of women in skirts and watching porn videos that his friend sends to his home. His happy-go-lucky days ends when he luckily knew that there is an opening for a homeroom teacher of a class in Seirin Gakuen (school). He probably knew that the condescending phase was coming when he was interviewed by traditional and stringent educators. But something happened that served as his chance to prove that he has more than the knowledge to become a teacher. The only person who appreciated Onizuka at first glance is the directress Akira Sakurai, who hastily gave the job to him. Now, bearing the multitude of unlikable background and the contagious rumor-spread around the school grounds, class 2-C, thinks that he would not last a week in their torture chamber. But instead, Onizuka faces his students' challenge and showed compassion to each as he/she faces his/her own problems beyond the school grounds.

Takashi Sorimachi plays Onizuka sensei. His disposition and demeanor in the series is very creditable. Although at first, I was hesitant to anticipate him standing in front of the class, I was gradually assured that Tohru Fujisawa's great masterpiece will not be taken as nothing. The character of Eikichi is very different compared to the queued great teachers TV and the big screen offered in the past. I am sure that it is inevitable that this live action sequel will be compared to another manga, Gokusen. In my own comparison and contrast of the two, I would most definitely still choose GTO. Eikichi is also a fighter but he has this suave take on every problem of his student. His co-teachers despise his violent ways when in reality, he does not go for violence in the first place. As a matter of fact, he always shows composure in dealing with his students. One of my favorite parts was when Onizuka rushed into Nanako Mizuki's house and started creating a hole on the wall that separates Nanako and her parents. He is the kind of teacher that you don't have to remind when you need something from him. I guess what the drama also wants to subconsciously instill is the problems of traditional teachers: being forgetful, always in need of scapegoat, authoritative, overlooking, and short-tempered.


Reel and Real tandem Sorimachi and Matsushima

Another important character in the drama is the role of Azusa Fuyutsuki played by the very enchanting actress, Nanako Matsushima (who also is the real-life wife of Sorimachi). Towards the end of the series, Fuyutsuki always shows frustration on how she can be regarded as GTF (Great Teacher Fuyutsuki). Sure, she is a very idealistic teacher who shows passion in teaching and compassion towards the students. But the students still have doubts on her principle of teaching as it is built within the traditional ground. Fuyutsuki and Onizuka complement each other: where tradition and non-convention meet. Through Onizuka, Fuyutsuki was understood by the rebellious students. Through Fuyutsuki, Onizuka was understood by the conservative teachers.

With his students

I know it is kind of tiring as you anticipate that all the students in class 2-C will be accommodated by Eikichi. But each problem that Onizuka tackles contain a long forgotten lesson that teachers, students and parents should always remember. I was very impressed with the series of events that Onizuka had gone through. Most of the so-called violence Onizuka is accused of symbolizes many things. Another favorite scene of mine was on Noboru Yoshikawa played by Shun Oguri (Hanazawa Rui in Hana Yori Dango). His stripping off in front of the assembly shows his emancipation and building courage.

GTO: Movie poster

One great message that I did learn from the drama is how serious Onizuka was in being a teacher that he no longer cares about the delineation of his personal life and his job. His symbolic, impulsive and unconventional takes on the problems of his students only shows his audacity as a teacher. He is a teacher who is not afraid to lose his job to be able to protect and help his students. A teacher is not only confined within the school grounds, particularly within the classroom. A teacher will always be a teacher even without the aid of a blackboard and a class record.