Gokusen

• Ja Kanji — ごくせん • Genre — * Comedy • Martial arts • Yakuza

• Type — manga • Author — Kozueko Morimoto (manga artist) • Publisher — Shueisha • Magazine — You • Imprint — You Comics • First — 2000 • Last — 2007 • Volumes — 15

• Type — drama • Director — * Tōya Satō • Tarō Ōtani • Naoharu Takahashi (S1 Season 1) • Tomoaki Watanabe (S2 Season 2) • Manami Yamashita (S3 Season 3) • Producer — Shōshun Katō • Writer — * Michiru Egashira • Yūko Matsuda • Rie Yokota • Music — Michiru Ōshima • Licensee — Amazon Prime Video (streaming) • Network — Nippon TV • First — April 17, 2002 • Last — June 28, 2008 • Episodes — 33 • Episode List — List of Gokusen episodes

• Type — live tv film • Title — Gokusen Special: Sayonara 3-nen D-gumi • Director — Tōya Satō • Producer — Shōshun Katō • Writer — * Michiru Egashira • Yūko Matsuda • Rie Yokota • Music — Michiru Ōshima • Studio — Nippon TV • Released — 2003 03 26

• Type — tv series • Director — Yuzo Sato • Producer — * Masao Maruyama • Manabu Tamura • Hiroshi Yamashita • Writer — Yasuko Kobayashi • Music — Tomoki Hasegawa • Studio — Madhouse • Network — Nippon TV • First — January 7, 2004 • Last — March 31, 2004 • Episodes — 13 • Episode List — List of Gokusen episodes#The Gokusen (2004 anime)

• Type — live tv film • Title — Gokusen 3: Graduation Special 2009 • Director — Tōya Satō • Producer — Shōshun Katō • Writer — * Michiru Egashira • Rie Yokota • Music — Michiru Ōshima • Studio — Nippon TV • Released — 2009 3 28

• Title — Theatrical film • Content — *Gokusen: The Movie (2009)

• Portal — yes Gokusen is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kozueko Morimoto (manga artist). It was serialized in Shueisha's josei manga magazine You from 2000 to 2007, with its chapters collected in 15 wideban volumes. The story follows Kumiko Yamaguchi, the granddaughter of a yakuza boss and teacher at an all-male private high school. The manga was adapted into a three-season television drama, with Yukie Nakama in the title role, which was broadcast on Nippon TV from 2002 to 2008, followed by a theatrical film, which premiered in 2009. A 13-episode anime television series adaptation by Madhouse was broadcast on Nippon TV in 2004. The anime series was licensed in North America by Media Blasters.

Kumiko Yamaguchi is the granddaughter of a yakuza boss, Kuroda of the Kuroda Ikka. Her parents died when she was at the age of seven, and her grandfather had no other descendants, so Kumiko is next in line to head the family business with the title of young lady. However, her lifelong dream has been to become a teacher. While her grandfather approves of her choice, others in the family want her to become the next boss. Kumiko becomes home teacher of class 4-2 in mathematics at an all-boys private high school, where she is known as "Yankumi". Her class is full of delinquents, but she tries her hardest to teach them not just academically, but also about lessons of life. Though she is forced to keep her family a secret from the public, her yakuza upbringing gives her the strength and the experience to reach out to her students, while also providing comedic situations.

• Kumiko "Yankumi" Yamaguchi: • Yukie Nakama, Suzuka Ohgo (young, season 1) • Kumiko Yamaguchi, nicknamed "Yankumi" by her students, is a young teacher at Shirokin Gakuen. Orphaned in childhood, she was raised by her grandfather, the leader of a Tokyo Ninkyo organization, which influences her behavior through yakuza mannerisms and speech patterns. Despite her unconventional background, she demonstrates sincere dedication to her students. Her martial arts skills and genuine concern eventually earn their respect, though her initial teaching approach often startles them. Kumiko exhibits a notable attraction to men wearing fundoshi, while her yakuza connections remain frequently overlooked by others.

• Ryuichiro Kuroda: • Ken Utsui • Kumiko's grandfather. He leads a respected yakuza organization with a small but elite membership. Though his immediate group appears modest, he wields significant influence in the underworld and can mobilize thousands of members. His highly skilled followers regularly defeat larger opposing forces, deterring potential challengers. Locally, his organization maintains public order, notably preventing Kudou's escape from the Ooedo Clan. After Kumiko's parents die, he raises her while accepting her choice to become a teacher rather than inherit the family business. He recognizes his daughter Yuriko left for similar reasons. While generally dignified, he shows playful protectiveness toward Kumiko. • Kyotaro "Kyo-san" Oshima: • Kyo serves as Kumiko's primary protector within the yakuza organization. Originally assigned as her guardian during childhood, he develops a paternal bond with her despite his shortcomings in this role. He trains Kumiko in self-defense to combat school bullying related to her family background. Their relationship evolves into a father-daughter dynamic, with Kumiko considering him her closest paternal figure. Kyo demonstrates fierce loyalty, going so far as to stage a confrontation to protect Kumiko's secret from her students, then attempting suicide out of remorse for striking her. While deeply protective of both Kumiko and her students, he maintains violent tendencies when perceiving threats to her wellbeing. He eventually recognizes Shin's romantic feelings for Kumiko and approves of their relationship. • Kouzou Wakamatsu: • The Kuroda family's young chief assistant maintains close ties with both Ryuichiro and Kyo. As the only married member of the group, he demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his wife Yusue, who operates a popular nightclub frequented by the organization. Like his colleagues, he develops a familial bond with Kumiko, regarding her with protective affection. • Minoru Tatsukawa: • Shinji Uchiyama • Minoru is a loyal member of Kumiko's yakuza organization who operates a takoyaki stand near her school with Tetsu. Kumiko took him in as a homeless teenager, establishing a sibling-like relationship. His enthusiastic support occasionally risks exposing her dual identity. He briefly pursued a romantic relationship that ended due to his attempt to leave criminal life. • Tetsu Asakura: • Ken Kaneko • Tetsu is a devoted member of Kumiko's yakuza group who maintains a protective watch over her. He operates alongside Minoru, often assisting Kumiko while trying to avoid exposing her secret identity. Kumiko took him in during his teenage years when he had nowhere else to go, establishing a sibling-like relationship that precludes romantic involvement. His loyalty remains steadfast despite this familial boundary. • Fuji Kuroda: • Fuji is Kumiko's loyal dog. Though his thoughts are inaudible to most characters, Shin demonstrates an unusual ability to understand him.

• Tomoya Shinohara: • Ikki Sawamura • Shinohara serves as legal counsel for Kumiko's yakuza group, repaying her grandfather's support during his law studies. Kumiko maintains romantic feelings for him, though he recognizes Shin's affection for her and ultimately encourages their relationship. When Shinohara invites Kumiko to accompany him home, she declines after consideration. He later returns to his hometown following his father's hospitalization. • Hiroki Kudoh • Kudoh is a former Shirokin Gakuen student expelled for violent behavior toward younger classmates. His conflict with Kumiko begins when she intervenes in his bullying, leading him to join the rival Nekomata Group. After attempting to frame the Ooedo Clan and kidnapping Kumiko, he is ultimately defeated by her students. Kumiko later assumes responsibility for his rehabilitation despite his initial resistance. • Ichiro Tsuruta: • Ichiro Tsuruta is a former student expelled for bullying junior classmates alongside Kudoh. Considered the school's strongest fighter, he eventually reforms after losing to Kumiko in a secret match. Though physically imposing, he demonstrates unexpected kindness and culinary skills. He later assists classmates when needed and rejoins the school system, though his exact grade level remains unclear due to his prolonged absence. • Ichikawa: • A Shirokin Gakuen student frequently bullied by peers, he attracts Fujiyama's attention due to his resemblance to a former middle school student. She recruits him for the choir club to remove him from harmful social circles. Kumiko and Shin prevent his attempted suicide by intervening during a rooftop incident. He subsequently becomes an active choir member under Fujiyama's guidance.

Written and illustrated by Kozueko Morimoto (manga artist), Gokusen was serialized in Shueisha's josei manga magazine You from 2000 to 2007. Shueisha collected its chapters in fifteen wideban volumes, released from August 23, 2000, to April 19, 2007. A sequel, Gokusen: Kanketsu-hen (or Gokusen 2008), was published in You from December 28, 2007, to August 1, 2009. These chapters were collected in a single volume, released on January 19, 2010.

The first twelve-episode season of Gokusen was broadcast on Nippon TV from April 17 to July 3, 2002. It was followed by a special episode, which aired on March 26, 2003. The theme song is "Feel your breeze" by V6. The first season was broadcast with English subtitles in the United States on KSCI in 2003. The second ten-episode season of Gokusen, Gokusen 2, was broadcast on Nippon TV from January 15 to March 19, 2005. The theme song is "No More Cry (D-51 song)" by D-51. It also includes an insert song, "Kizuna", by Kazuya Kamenashi, who portrayed the exclusive drama character Ryū Odagiri. The second season was broadcast with English subtitles in the United States on KSCI in 2005. The third eleven-episode season of Gokusen, Gokusen 3, was broadcast on Nippon TV from April 19 to June 28, 2008. It was followed by a special episode, which aired on March 28, 2009. The theme song is "Niji (Aqua Timez song)" by Aqua Timez. It also includes an insert song, "Oretachi no Seishun", by Hey! Say! JUMP's Yuya Takaki, who portrayed the exclusive drama character Yamato Ogata. Amazon Prime Video started streaming the three seasons in October 2024.

A 13-episode anime television series adaptation by Madhouse and directed by Yuzo Sato, was broadcast on Nippon TV from January 7 to March 31, 2004. The opening theme is "Hontō no Kotoba" by Foot Stamp, and the ending theme is "Onore Michi" by Aki Yashiro. The series was licensed for English release in North America by Media Blasters, who released it on three DVDs, under its Anime Works imprint, from October 12, 2004, to March 1, 2005. The series aired in the United States on Encore WAM in 2006.