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Gokusen (TV)

The Yakuza-raised teacher is back for a third instalment of live action television series Gokusen.

Based on the popular manga and anime of the same name, this series sees teacher Kumiko Yamaguchi (Nakama Yukie, Shinobi and Gamera 3) return to teach another group of misunderstood high school delinquents.

Kumiko is a high school teacher with a dark secret: her grandfather is a powerful Yakuza boss and she is next in line to succeed him.

Orphaned at the age of seven, her grandfather takes her in and raises her. Although she grows up surrounded by gangsters, she follows her dream to become a teacher with the blessing of her grandfather.

In the first series, Kumiko gets her first post at an all-boys school and is assigned to class 3-D, known and feared by all the teachers as the 'delinquent class'. However, thanks to her upbringing, Kumiko is well equipped to deal with the class. Not only does she teach them maths, but important life lessons and how to become honourable men.

Much of the comedy and drama stems from Kumiko having to keep her Yakuza ties secret. But sometimes she forgets herself, using mafia slang, and causing raised eyebrows.

Seasons One and Two earned Nakama Yukie Best Actress awards from the Television Drama Academy Awards, held quarterly by a Japanese magazine called The Television.

Season Three is currently airing on Nippon Television in Japan to celebrate the station's 55th anniversary. Both seasons aired in Hong Kong, so hopefully the third will follow soon.

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