It has been revealed that actress Nanako Matsushima, the same character she played in the 1998 "GTO" and the 2024 one-off special "GTO Revival." This will be her first time co-starring with Sorimachi in a drama series in 28 years, and a shocking development awaits in the first four minutes of the first episode airing on July 20th.
"GTO" is based on the manga of the same name by Tohru Fujisawa and is a school drama about Eikichi Onizuka, a former biker gang member turned teacher who tackles student and school problems head-on with his unconventional actions. The TV series, which aired in 1998, recorded high ratings, with an average household viewership of 28.5% in the Kanto region for all 12 episodes and 35.7% for the final episode (according to Video Research), becoming a landmark school drama of the Heisei era. In April 2024, it made a one-night-only comeback with the special drama "GTO Revival".
Matsushima's character, Azusa Fuyutsuki, changes careers from teacher to flight attendant (CA) towards the end of the 1998 version. In "GTO Revival," she continues to work as a CA, and at the end of the main story, her co-starring with Onizuka, who saves her student, and a two-shot of Onizuka and Fuyutsuki walking side by side, caused a huge sensation as a "dream co-starring appearance of a married couple."
For this new "GTO," the staff who worked on the 1998 version, including lead actor Takashi Sorimachi, screenwriter Kazuhiko Yukawa, director Satoru Nakajima, and producer Kazuhisa Ando, have reunited. While carefully preserving the worldview and character of Eikichi Onizuka from that time, the new series will be produced as an updated drama that also incorporates elements of the Reiwa era.
Matsushima commented on her appearance in the series, saying, "This time, the script is by Yukawa-san and the direction is by Director Nakajima, so the same staff from 28 years ago have come together. I'm really looking forward to filming, but I'm also feeling nervous." She added, "Onizuka-sensei's passionate feelings, which I want to convey once again in this day and age, will be revived in this TV series. Please enjoy watching Onizuka, who still retains traces of his former self but has matured into an adult."
◇Comment from Nanako Matsushima
--Could you tell us how you felt when it was decided that you would appear in "GTO" again?
"GTO Revival" was a special time, like a class reunion, as I got to see my co-stars again after a long time.
This time, the script is by Mr. Yukawa and the direction is by Director Nakajima, so the same staff from 28 years ago have reunited, which made filming very exciting, but also made me feel nervous.
--The "GTO Revival" that aired in 2024 received a great response. Are there any comments from viewers that particularly stand out to you?
I received many inquiries both before and after the revival, asking about things like what happened to my relationship with Mr. Onizuka afterwards.
I was reminded once again that the revival was a work that remains in people's memories even after many years have passed, with people who were the same age as the original students saying they watched it with their children, people who decided to become teachers or decided to get married, and people who recalled the history of their lives along with the drama.
--Please give a message to the viewers who support "GTO".
The passionate message that Mr. Onizuka wanted to convey to today's world is revived in a television drama series. Please enjoy the exploits of Onizuka, who, while still retaining traces of his former self, has matured into an adult.
