Chiliagon

In order to keep things peaceful at Chiliagon

2008-06-21T04:17:19Z

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Selected Drama Recaps

2008-06-20T06:10:50Z

Gokusen 3

Episode 1	Episode 2	Episode 3	Episode 4	Episode 5	Episode 6
Episode 7	Episode 8	Episode 9	Episode 10	Episode 11?	Special? (SP)

Disclaimer: Gokusen 3 is the copyright and intellectual property of Nihon Television (NTV) Japan. c2008. No profit is being made and no infringement is intended. Please do not post these recaps to any other site. Please link to us directly.

G3 Ep01 (page 16)

2008-06-20T05:43:38Z

An Uneasy Truce

He patronizes them by telling them to “shhhh” like little children. The other teachers can barely contain them. It’s a good thing that none of them thought to break away from the back and then jump up on the stage. They demand that Sawatari apologize to Ren and ask for his forgiveness. Even Honjo says he ought to bow his head. Kuraki wants to know, “How can we keep quiet after you’ve treated our boy like this?”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Yankumi shouts. The boys stop pressing forward and turn around. She briefly stands in the door in her Wonder!Woman pose and then moves forward. The 26 boys move towards her, too, and the rest of the students step back.

She steels herself and rips into the 3D class. “You don’t have the right to say those words.” Sawatari thinks the students have settled down and he wants her to be quiet. She won’t.

“What did you do when Kazama was suspended?” she demands. “Did any of you believe him?” They, at least, have the decency to look sufficiently embarrassed. “Did you defend him by saying he wasn’t the culprit? Don’t just say he’s one of you whenever it’s convenient.”

Sakura and Aoi are impressed.

Yankumi heads towards the stage, parting the crowd. Ogata and Kazama come running through the door at the same time. I wonder what kept them… Yankumi climbs up on the stage for relay some parting thoughts.

“Listen everyone. Open your ears and listen carefully. Just because you’re hanging out together doesn’t mean you can call yourself close friends.” Her speech is interspersed with shots of the boys as they listen intently. “Close friends are those you reveal your true selves to, have complete faith in, and can have a relationship with for the rest of your lives. Without even knowing that, don’t waste your high school life! You still have quite some time before graduation. It’s not too late to create a truly irreplaceable brotherhood. I’ll see you through until the end. Don’t run away!”

Sawatari is somewhat distressed. If those thugs-in-progress believe in Yamaguchi Kumiko, they won’t drop out of school and the school will continue to have disciplinary problems while they learn how to be civilized.

The other teachers though are in awe. She is an inspiration to them. The students, too, give an inch…just an inch. The jury is still out on her…

Nest week: Yankumi teaches the boys how to Kick the Can; Ren and Yamato plan a throw down at a temple, but it doesn't work out; Ren and Yamato beat the shit out each other somewhere else; Yankumi tries to make peace; Another fight. Another warehouse; Kuma is baking something and Yakumi gives a speech or 20.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 15)

2008-06-20T05:42:13Z

Salvation

The next morning Grandpa Kuroda is reading the newspaper. He sees where the serial mugger was arrested. That fool Hiro was only 19-years-old and now he has extremely limited choices in this society.

At the same time, Yankumi has arrived Kazama Ren’s home. It’s the crack of dawn again. It’s quite amazing for someone who is usually late for school herself. Anyway, she’s too damned cheerful for Ren and he tries to close the door. She doesn’t let him. Instead, she says it’s great they caught the mugger. He agrees. She tells him that Ogata Yamato found the guy. Ren is truly surprised.

Yankumi lapses into teacher mode and tells him to get ready for school or he’ll be late. He honestly can’t believe she’s saying that.

At school, Sawatari is holding an assembly. He announces that the mugger had been caught; however, it is still an embarrassment that a student from3D was suspected in the first place.

Outside, Yankumi is still trying to get Kazama to move faster because they’re late. He doesn’t even attempt to quicken his pace because he’s arrogant and beautiful again. To her surprise, Yamato is sitting outside the gates of the school. She asks him what he’s doing and tells him that he’ll be late.

Ren approaches cautiously and in his own way shows his throat to Ogata. He yields. In his eyes, Ogata has earned the right to be the Akadou leader. “I heard you found the real mugger.”

Yankumi wasn’t expecting that.

Ogata doesn't want Ren's submissiveness. He wants to beat him down. “I didn’t do it for you. Besides, we haven’t settled our score yet.”

Ren is somewhat disgusted. He’s virtually given away leadership. The fight is unnecessary. Yamato has won…or has he?

Yankumi doesn’t let the moment pass. She becomes chipper as hell again and tousles their hair like they’re children. They push her away because they still can’t stand her touching them. They don’t trust her that much.

“The two of you have declared a cease-fire.”

“Ceasefire?” Kazama and Ogata both ask.

Yankumi tries to save herself. “Ah…reconciliation…reconciliation!”

Out of the blue, Ms. Takano races toward them. She tells Yankumi that something terrible is happening. In the gymnasium, the 3D boys are doing their best to get to Sawatari, who is cowering at the back of the stage. Seriously, they want to choke the life out him. It's about time something Yankumi said has sank into their thick heads.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 14)

2008-06-20T05:41:00Z

To Protect What is Important

Without warning, someone begins banging on the entrance to the warehouse. Shocking, the thing comes off the hinges. Hiro and company are unnerved. Yamato, who is on the verge of passing out, barely has enough strength to get a glimpse of his teacher before he passes out.

She is outraged. “A gang of adults beating the shit out of a high school boy…it’s despicable.”

While she’s talking, she takes off her wig and earrings…at least she would have if she lived in the inner city. She takes the bands from her hair and tosses aside her glasses. Wonder!Woman Yankumi is gonna to kick some ass tonight!

Hiro wants to know who the hell she is. “I’m his homeroom teacher.”

Hiro can’t believe what he’s hearing. Clearly, he doesn’t recognize that his life is in danger. She demands that he hand over her precious student. Hiro doesn’t buy into that and tells her not to make him laugh.

He doesn’t know when to quit. “School doesn’t mean shit. These guys don’t have any future ahead of them anyway, high school or not. This guy’s no different from us…no good half-assed scum.”

She’s going to make him eat those words. “Don’t insult him! To make up for the things he did, he came here alone to confront you. He suffered a beating at your hands to help a buddy. He’s decent.” In her eyes, despite the mistakes Ogata has made, he still has a chance to have the Japanese dream. He can still be a part of ordinary Japanese society. There’s still a place for him.

A few of Hiro’s friends rush forward as he tells her to watch her mouth. She starts kicking asses and talking names. She grabs one by the arm and tries to twist it off. “Whether you’re a failure or half-assed scum, you can still start over.” Hmm…I’m not so sure about that, but this is fiction, after all.

They call her all kinds of bitches in the process, but she beats her way over to Hiro. Before she takes him out, she makes sure he and the others understand the situation. “Heae this. If it’s to protect my precious student, I won’t hold back.”

Stupidly, they tell her to shut up and even more of them get beat down. It’s amazing what a tiny little woman can do. Finally, it’s down to her and Hiro. He runs a short distance, picks up a pipe and tries to decapitate her, but she’s too fast.

He loses sight of her momentarily. She’s behind him. He tries to whack her with the pipe again, but she’s still too fast and too strong. Then she does that palm to ribcage thing that can take anybody out! Hiro goes down like a piece of shit flushed down the toilet.

She stands over Yamato for a moment. When he comes to later, they are being sheltered under an absolutely gorgeous cherry tree with other beautiful ones in the background. He immediately asks about the guys. She wonders which guys. He says the mugger and his crew. She lies and tells him that by the time she got there, the police had already arrested them. That doesn’t jive with Yamato’s memory though. He saw her come through the door.

Yankumi teases him by saying he’s reckless and thanks him for finding the real mugger. He insists it had nothing to do with her. Even so, she says she was happy. Yamato doesn't know what to make of that. She points out that he believed in Ren. Stubborn as ever, he said he just wanted to right a wrong. She accepts this because she doesn’t want to hurt his pride.

He groans in pain as he gets to his feet. She tries to help him, but he jerks away from her. He says he can get home by himself. He’s not a kid. She gets that. “That’s true, but you’re my precious student. You and Kazama both.” He says, “Stop joking” and walks away.

She whispers, “No matter what, I’ll protect you.” Teachers protect their students.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 13)

2008-06-20T05:39:31Z

Redemption: A Leader is Born

Today is Ogata Yamato's birthday. Today, for the first time, he exhibits leadership skills. Perhaps he is ready to lead 3D.

Like Yankumi he works the streets looking for the culprit. He encounters all sorts of disreputable people who shouldn’t ever have contact with teenagers, but Yamato already knows something about the ugly side of life.

His teacher is more determined than ever and now she has taken her quest to a pachinko parlor.

Yamato accidentally runs into someone in a club and almost gets into a fight when he realizes that guy is the mugger. The necklace and the tattoo match. The establishment serves alcohol. The legal drinking age is 20. Yamato is 18. I wonder why they let him enter. Hmmm...

He follows the guy into an alley. The guy confronts him. They face off and when Yamato thinks about leaving, other men appear. Knowing he can’t get away, he demands verification. “You’re that serial mugger, aren’t you?” The guy admits it.

Yankumi is still on the streets when she encounters two men who marvel that she’s looking for “Hiro,” too. His partner says that a kid from Akadou was looking for Hiro earlier. He wonders if she knows the kid.

She’s stunned and then remembers the look on Ogata’s face earlier at the police station. She asks the guys where Ogata was, but they say that by now he’s probably being “entertained” by Hiro. They suggest she stay out of it. She asks where Ogata is, but they wave her off.

She half turns into Wonder!Woman, grabs them by the clothes, throws them against the wall and demands to know where her student went. The answer secured, she takes off running. Superheroes don’t take taxis.

In the meantime, Hiro and company are beating Yamato in an abandoned warehouse. At one point when he goes down, Hiro asks Yamato if hhas hade enough yet. Defiant, the younger boy grabs Hiro's color and tells him that someone else is taking the heat for the crime and he plans to turn Hiro into the police. The beating resumes.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 12)

2008-06-20T05:38:21Z

The Fight to Save an Innocent

Another day. Another outing. Understanding begins to dawn on Ogata. Maybe Yamaguchi Kumiko is someone they can trust. Maybe Ren isn't the mugger despite being in the vicinity and running away.

At the coffee house, Honjo and Kamiya still don’t understand why Yamkumi believes in Ren especially after Yamato told her Ren was in the vicinity of the tunnel. Without warning, someone asks if it’s true. It’s the two detectives. They want to more know about it. Honjo and Kamiya look sick. They never intended to rat Ren out. Yamato turns his anger on the detectives because they were eavesdropping on a private conversation. Like his friends, he never wanted Ren in trouble with the law.

Outside, Yankumi continues her mission. She will find the culprit if it’s the last things she does. Suddenly, she gets a call on her cell phone. It’s the Vice Principal. The news sends her running and she finds herself in front of the police station.

Sawatari arrives in a taxi with Ren in tow. Without his uniform, the boy looks dull and subdued. Sawatari is displeased to see her. He drags Ren along by the arm; the boy does not resist. “Apparently, I was being too complacent. I thought you would be able to keep the 3D troublemakers under control. These guys are scum, after all. It’s useless to try to teach scum.” Ren accepts the condemnation. This is the card he was dealt in life.

Yankumi though won’t stand for it, but before she could get fired up, Sawatari had some words for her, too. “Ms Yamaguchi, you knew, didn’t you? That he was near the scene around the time of the incident. It seems the detectives found out from Yamato Ogata.” His anger at her is real. He didn’t think even she would keep him in the dark like this.

Ren is surprised Ogata gave him up to the police.

As important as it was to have Sawatari’s trust, it’s more important for her at that moment to have Ren’s. His life and his future is on the line. She needs her strength and the intensity of her emotions to fight for her student. For the Vice Principal, that’s neither here nor there. Whether Ren is the culprit or not is up to the detectives and they seem hell-bent on arresting the boy.

Yankumi looks around. Six detectives and at least one uniformed officer appear at the top of the stairs. She races towards them and tries to explain Ren’s point of view. “Detectives, he lied because he thought if he told the truth, you’d suspect him.”

“It’s enough!” Ren recognizes that she has gone beyond and above even what a teacher should do for a student. He’s grateful, but she needs to stop now.

“What’s enough?” she demands.

He lays it on the line. “I’m used to this!”

This angers her. “Don’t get used to something like this!”

The detectives pass her by and she chases them, still trying to explain. “Detectives, he lied because it was the only way he could protect himself.” One grabs Ren by the arm and drags him up the stairs. She continues. “Didn’t we adults make him like this? Please don’t push Kazama into a corner.” She begs and begs because she knows once Ren loses all hope and trusts in people, then he truly will become a thug.

Sawatari, whose been holding on to her for awhile, finally puts an end to it. That done, he follows Ren and the police.

It isn't over yet. She won't give up that easily. “Kazama! I’ll definitely get you out of this!” She’s committed. She refuses to fail him. He doesn’t look back. He can’t afford to believe in what she’s offering. The deck is stacked against him. This makes her even more determined. She makes the vow to herself again. She will get him out of that mess.

As she turns to leave, she pots Ogata Yamato. In silence, he walks away.

Before long, he ends up walking along the same river bank Ren and Yankumi did earlier. While there, he remembers what Yankumi told him. “I believe Kazama. If I don’t believe in my students, I’m not a teacher.” Yamato stops and pulls a flyer from his pocket. He makes a decision and turns back. There is something he must do.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 11)

2008-06-20T05:36:47Z

A Teacher’s Quest

Back at school, in the faculty room, Yankumi hands out flyers with a description of the culprit. Baba is enthusiastic; the others have various reactions. Yankumi points out that the culprit is wearing a skull necklace and has a tattoo.

She does the same in the classroom and begs the students to help her prove Ren’s innocence. Even Kuraki and Ichimura are surprised. Honjo says the description is probably just another one of Ren’s lies. Ren lied about being in the vicinity of the crime. Yankumi insists he isn’t lying. Kamiya demands to know what makes her so sure. She says she read the truth in Ren’s eyes. Kamiya closes in on her, bends down to make certain he hears her. “That’s dumb.” The rest of the class laughs.

Surprisingly, Ogata isn’t laughing. Yankumi begs for their help again. Honjo throws the flyer in the air and the others follow suit. Everyone leaves the room, lead by Kamiya.

After school, Yankumi goes on a mission. Flyers in hand, she stops people on the street and asks them if they’d seen a man with a skull necklace and a tribal tattoo. She also goes to a game center and checks out every single guy.

At one point she flies by Ogata and his crew. They are stunned she is truly looking for the mugger. Although Ogata agrees with his friends that she’s stupid, her dedication is getting to him. She continues unabated.

Back at Kazama’s house, his friends give him a flyer and say that they wish they could clear his name, too, but they don’t think they could catch the real culprit with just that description.

At home, Yankumi’s family is worried because she’s late. Tetsu says she was probably doing something for her students. Grandpa Kuroda is philosophical. “She was born to be a teacher.”

Day after day, rain or shine, she continues unabated. Ogata monitors her from a distance as she suffers indignity after indignity. Some people are downright rude and throw away the fliers. The other teachers worry that she’s wasting her time. She isn’t. She must do this. “If I give up, I can’t face my students.” As long as the real culprit is out there, Kazama Ren remains the prime suspect.

As she presses forward, Ogata finally can’t stand to watch her suffer so and asks her if she’s stupid. In his mind, she’s being tricked by Ren’s lies. She tells him she believes in Kazama. “If I don’t believe in my students, I can’t call myself a teacher.” Yamato thinks she’s a galaxy-class fool.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 10)

2008-06-20T05:35:25Z

The Truth Revealed

The next morning, we find Yankumi walking through a housing project. She briefly stops in front of a mailbox. The name Kazama is written on it. Clearly Ren’s family is not wealthy and he’s probably a student at Akadou Academy because no public school would accept him. Compulsory education ends in the final year of junior high school, at around 15-years-old.

Ren opens the door and Yankumi cheerfully says good morning. He doesn't utter a word and tries to close the door, but she catches it and tells him she has something to tell him. He’s not interested. She wants to know the truth. Given that she’s at his home at the crack of dawn, he accurately surmises that he can trust her to a point.

The next time we see them, they’re walking along the banks of the river. He’s several strides in front of her and has his hands in his pockets. She tells him that someone claims they saw him the night of the incident. She asks if it’s true. Was he in the vicinity? He stops walking and she begs him to tell her the truth because she wants to hear everything from his lips.

Grimacing, he remains silent. She pushes him. “You won’t tell me?”

Loudly, he admits he was there. She closes the gap between them and demands to know why he lied and said he was at home.

He has a question for her. “Would you have believed me if I’d told the truth?” She doesn’t answer. It’s just as well because he’s not done. “Just being there would have been enough for them to label me the criminal! It’s always like that. When something happens, I’m always the first one treated like a criminal! When the book fees were stolen in elementary school and when a classmate lost his wallet in middle school, I was always the first suspect. No matter how many times I denied it, no one believed me.”

Yankumi calls his name because she feels his pain. As she suspected, he’s just a hurt little boy in a grown man’s body. “You truly…didn’t do anything?” He insists he didn’t do anything and as she stares into his eyes, he admits that he was in the vicinity that night, but that’s all. He walks away.

She calls out again and says she believe him. He stops in his tracks. He didn’t see that coming. “No matter what the other teachers or the police say, I believe you.” He can’t believe she isn’t going to bust him. She says she’s his homeroom teacher and she isn’t going to sell him out. Instead, she thanks him for telling her the truth and restoring her faith in teaching, in students and in education. He’s still somewhat skeptical of her motives, but he accepts it for now.

She stuns him further by saying they should find for the real culprit. She asks if he saw anyone suspicious and Ren says he didn’t see anything. She’s willing to listen to anything he remembers. In frustration, he tries to reiterate his point when something hits him. She presses him. Ren says he collided with a guy. He was pissed and ran after him, but the guy got away. Yankumi is thrilled. Now they have a lead. She makes him tell her everything he remembers.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 9)

2008-06-20T05:33:06Z

Sinking Fast

Back at home, Yankumi is sitting at the entrance of her home, wrapped in distress. This is absolutely one of the worst days in her entire teaching career. Tetsu, Minoru, Wakamatsu and Makoto watch over her with genuine concern.

As she pours out her heart and soul, her grandfather sits in the tatami room and smokes a pipe. “I’m too disappointed to cry. He (Kazama Ren) was content to lie. To make matters worse, the other couldn’t care less about camaraderie (nakama). “Up until now, all of my students understood what camaraderie meant.”

Whether Nakama is rendered in English as friend, buddy, pals, comrades brother or whatever, it is truly one of the keys to the Japanese soul. Without it, one simply cannot survive. The Japanese have an extremely strong sense of belonging. Within this bond, there is security. Without it, they are lost.

For a nakama, an almost tribal closeness, an almost promiscuous degree of intimacy, means that a person has a place to return to. A person always has someone to watch their backs and to look out for their best interests. This is crucial for survival in a country where at every level of society, everything is divided into uchi (the insiders) and soto (outsiders). Everyone pays close attention to their uchi and by extension their nakama and in this way they become insensitive to soto.

Yankumi’s class is full of students who see everyone as soto. They have no uchi; no nakama. They are doomed because there’s no place in Japanese society for such people.

“Up until now, all of my students understood what camaraderie meant.”

Grandpa Kuroda has had enough of this self-pity. “What your former students did…is irrelevant.” She is shocked by his words. “If you compare and rank them…then you’re the same as those who label them delinquents. The way you are now, you’re not trying to face your students head on.”

Teachers exist to help their students solve their problems. It doesn’t matter if Kamaza is lying or not. As a teacher, it is her responsibility to get him through this difficult period in his life.

Grandpa Kuroda rises and as he leaves the room he says, “I’m disappointed to hear this.”

With the rest of her family standing by to aid her in any way they can, she admits her grandfather was right. She’s failed as a teacher. Tetsu won’t hear of it and leans down to talk to her. Almost every male in this drama towers over her.

“You’re talking crazy. You decided against becoming the 4^th Oedo Godfather…and chose the teaching path. Don’t say defeatist things like you’ve failed as a teacher.” Wakamatsu encourages her, too. “All you have to do is start over again. Look your students straight in the eye and run straight into them.” It’s just like the tachiai in sumo wrestling. When the two collide, there’s a meeting of two spirits. From that point, they begin to understand teach other.

All four men smile at her encouragingly. She thanks them for their support. This is what it means to be a part of a nakama.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 8)

2008-06-20T05:31:21Z

Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Before she can accomplish anything, Sawatari and Ushijima enter. She’s surprised. Sawatari is angry and tells Kazama to come with him. Ren is taken aback. He hasn’t done anything yet. Yankumi asks them what’s going on. Ushijima is happy to deliver the news. “The police would like to ask him some questions regarding the recent muggings.”

All eyes, even those of his allies, are now on Ren. Yamato stares at him knowingly. After all, he saw Ren come out of the tunnel.

Commercials. Ode to the grand sponsors.

Ren is sitting at a table glancing at newspapers with stories about the serial muggings. Sawatari asks him where he was and what he was doing last night around 10 p.m. Ren doesn’t answer that question. Instead, he says he didn’t do anything. Sawatari asks him again.

Ren ignores him, leans on the table and asks the detective in front of him if he’s a suspect. The man says he isn’t. They’re investigating because witnesses said that the assailant looked like a high school student. Ren is confused and wonders why they came to him. After all, high school students grow on trees. They said the assailant was about his build and his description was similar. Ren’s confusion mounts. To him, that isn’t evidence.

The second detective brings up the fact that Ren was arrested for assault in junior high. This is news to Yankumi. This isn’t a joke. Ushijima, tires of the game, asks Ren again where he was at 10 p.m. last night. Yankumi asks him to please tell them. The detectives stare at him intently. Ren says he was at home. The first detective asks if he has proof, an alibi. Ren says he doesn’t.

Angry and humiliated, he rises and looms over the first detective. “Then I’ll ask you. Do you have proof I did it?” They laugh and mock him. Their mistake. In a rage, he grabs the guy and drags him to his feet. Yankumi and Ushijima grab Ren’s arms in an effort to restrain him.

As the detectives bid them farewell, they leave a parting shot. “It’s that kind of attitude that puts you in our sights in the first place!”

Ren replies with a resounding, “Fuck you!”

The teachers are having difficulty restraining him, thus, the detectives take their leave. Ren isn’t quite done yet. “Next time, come with the proof, you bastards!”

The Rijichou, who has been silent until that moment, hurries across the room and shuts the door behind the detectives. She is extremely displeased. “The police…here! This is unprecedented at our academy!”

Yankumi places herself her student and the Rijichou and tells her that Ren didn’t do anything. Sawatari doesn’t care. The fact that Ren was being questioned at all indicates that his daily actions are a problem. It was the very crux of the matter! He even went so far as to assault a detective.

The boy makes no attempt to apologize. Standing eye-to-eye with the Vice Principal, he smiles. In the process, he makes himself more and more beautiful.

The Rijichou, who is judge and jury, hands down a verdict. She is suspending him for a week. Ren is visibly distressed for a second or two. Amazingly, despite being bad as hell, school is important to him. Yankumi tries to intervene, but he says it’s all right with him. “I don’t care if you suspend me or what. Do what you want.” That said, he storms away, kicking a chair on the way out.

Yankumi and Sawatari call after him. She then turns her attention back to the Rijichou. She thinks this is extreme because Ren said he didn’t do anything. The Rijichou is ready for her, “Miss Yamaguchi…to punish and to eliminate…these are also forms of education.”

Yankumi stares angrily at the Rijichou, but she says nothing. She’s new at that school. She can’t help the boys if she’s dismissed. She must not cause too many waves, too many ripples. At least, not now.

In truth, the Rijichou is giving Kazama Ren a second chance because she could have easily expelled him without explanation. As a private institution, it is within her power to expel a student if he no longer fits her school’s criteria. The choice is his and his alone. He can either learn to abide by the rules and the principles set by the school or he can be tossed out on his ass.

Ren stomps into the classroom with Yankumi on his heels. She tries to get him to calm down, but he says he doesn’t care if they expel him. She tells him this isn’t a joke. She wants him to stay while she talks to the Rijichou. Ren’s got a deeper issue though.

“I don’t believe anything a damn teacher says.” He uses the word “senko” for teacher instead of “sensei,” clearly indicating his disdain for her and her profession.

He doesn’t trust Yankumi because apparently no teacher has ever stood up for him. As he pushes past her and out the door, his friends tell her to leave him alone. Ichimura asks a pertinent question, “What can a damn teacher do?”

For a moment, Yankumi is speechless. He’s right. What can she do? She can’t truly protect Ren because there’s no one to protect her at the stage of the game. The Kyoushokuin Kumiai doesn’t appear to be willing or able to protect teachers anymore. Thus, she, like many teachers feel they have no choice but to ignore certain behaviors around them.

True to her nature, Yankumi focuses on what is truly important and is incensed when the rest of the class seems unperturbed by Ren’s suspension. She wants to know why the hell they’re still laughing.

“Your buddy was suspended although he didn’t do anything wrong.” Ogata is amused. “Buddy? We just happen to be in the same class.” That’s not good enough for her. “Even so, don’t you feel anything? Doesn’t this bother you?” It doesn’t. It happens to them all the time.

Yankumi’s anger intensifies. “Don’t you think it’s unfair?” The boys are amused because she’s so fired up. She can’t believe how callous they are. “Why don’t you protest to the teachers?” Kuraki, clearly hurt by his friend’s dismal, jumps to his feet. “Get off your high horse!” Ichimura backs him. “Whatever we say isn’t going to change anything.” Kuraki continues. “You damn teachers never listen to anything that we have to say.”

She understands that they’ve been hurt in the past, but that isn’t the point. “Even so, are you going to abandon him?”

Ogata reveals what he knows. “Actually, he was hanging around the Shirokin Tunnel around the time of the incident.” She’s shocked, but he continues. “I saw him with my own eyes.” Flashback.

She asks if it’s true and he says it is. She’s completely crushed. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine that a student of hers would lie so blatantly. Furthermore, even if he did, she should have been able to recognize it. Has she been blinded by her own optimistic view of the world and Kazama Ren’s protests of innocences.

The students don’t give a damn about her angst. They file out the classroom, one by one, behind Ogata. With Kazama out of the picture, he’s the leader. Honjo even tries to comfort Kuraki, but he pushes him away. Friendship is possible…it just isn’t easy.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 7)

2008-06-20T05:28:47Z

The Red Thread

The next day, Yankumi is running to school because she’s late. She collides with a young man holding a briefcase. She goes down, flat on her back. He hovers over her, apologizes and asks if she’s all right. She’s angry and tells him to watch where he’s going.

Then it happens.

She looks him in the face and love stars circle his head. This is it folks. Yankumi love at its best. All the pain and anger mysteriously evaporates. Could this man be her one true love? He helps her up and continues to apologize.

He leaves running because he’s probably late, too. As he does, she notices that he’s dropped a book. It’s Romeo and Juliet, her signature love story. “Could this be… destiny?”

The daydream takes over. In her head, he says, “The day I ran into you, I knew it was destiny.” She replies, “For me, too.” It’s funny as hell because he’s in a white penguin suit and she’s wearing a red wedding dress.

Back in the real world, she realizes this might be it. “I’ve finally arrived…the red thread.” This comes from a Chinese legend that says that the Gods tie a red thread around the ankles of men and women who are destined to be soul mates (twin flame) and they will marry each other. The two people connected by the red thread are said to be destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break.

As she contemplates her future, her former student, Kumai Teruo (Kuma), from series one appears. He didn’t know she was back in town. She can’t see or hear him. The soundtrack is funny because it reminds me of when cartoon characters suffered concussions and those little birds flew around their heads.

She’s in deep this time. She skips away, squeaking, leaving Kuma alone with this Ramen noodle delivery.

Kazama and crew get to class before Yankumi. They approach Ogata and his boys. Honjo and Kamiya get to their feet.

Ogata, who sits with his legs crossed, is the picture of calm. “What do you want?” In Kazama’s mind, the time has come. “Let’s settle who rules Akadou.” Ogata laughs and stands. “You want a one-on-one with me?” Kazama says, “Right.” Ogata is ready for a throw down. “Fine. Let’s do it.” Kazama’s eyes grow large and intense. “After classes…Shirokin Park.” The other four boys glare at each other.

It’s settled. There’s gonna be some ass-kicking after school.

Yankumi happily enters the room and tells everyone to settle down. As usual, they don’t respond. The six with extreme violence on their minds never take their eyes off of each other. She tries several times to get them to calm down.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 6)

2008-06-20T05:27:29Z

Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Meanwhile, Ogata Yamato and his crew have taken up residence in a coffee shop decorated with palm trees. They’re playing darts and having fun. Honjo puts a damper on the good feelings by bringing up Kazama. He thinks Ren is getting too comfortable lately and Kamiya thinks it’s about time Ogata taught Kazama a lesson. Ogata thinks it might be. Honjo eggs him on by saying Ren probably thinks he can beat Yamato in a fight.

Ogato find that laughable and throws a dart. “I’d definitely win!”

Kazama Ren and his crew are in a pool hall. They’re having even more fun because Kuraki is definitely the life of the party. Like Honjo, Ichimura brings up the unpleasant topic of Ogata. He asks if Ren is planning a one-on-one fight with Yamato.

Ren seems positively thrilled by the prospect. “I’ll…kick his ass!” He emphasizes this by shooting a ball.

Given their deep-seeded anger, there’s no way to stop a showdown between the two. They must draw blood.

Now that the school day is over, the teachers get together, like a family, to relax, discuss what happened during the day, exchange gossip and discuss internal affairs. They do this in order to be a part of the circle of communication and to network. In this way, they build and maintain relationships.

Yankumi and the rest of the staff are in a traditional-style restaurant eating and drinking beer. The only male teacher to clink glasses during the cheers with her is Baba, who is incidentally drinking orange juice. Yankumi is unhappy. He’s overjoyed. It’s damned funny because he’s head over heels in love and she thinks he’s shit beneath her feet. The same thing happens when they ask the other two women if they have boyfriends. The men do not consider Yankumi to be beautiful or desireable.

Late on, Kazama and his crew are hanging out happily on the street when Kazama abruptly decides to leave them. He walks off alone.

Back at the restaurant, all the male teachers except Baba are drunk. Sakura and Aoi lament that there are no worthwhile men at their academy. It’s clear that while they are cutesy cute, they are no more successful at getting a man than Yankumi. Unlike her, they aren’t hopeful. She, on the other hand, believes that a person can meet their soul mate anywhere. In her mind, two people will collide on the street, meet eye to eye and fall in love just like that. This is the key to her strength. She has faith; she’s the embodiment of love. On a funny note, Baba shows up to agree and Yankumi backtracks.

Outside, a woman is walking in a tunnel. Uneasy, she stops in her tracks and looks behind her. Someone abruptly appears and grabs her purse. She cries out for help, while desperately hanging on to her bag. The mugger slugs her in the face and she goes down. He sprints away with the loot.

As she continues screaming for help, Ogata is walking on the bridge above the tunnel. Kazama comes racing out of the tunnel and runs into an old man. Police sirens go off. The two boys briefly make eye contact. Kazama runs away.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 5)

2008-06-20T05:25:32Z

Taking It All In

Back in the faculty room, Yankumi checks the files of Ogata Yamato and Kazama Ren. Maybe it’s a fan challenge or something, but the character files list the real birthdays and blood types of the two actors who portray the students.

Ushijima is worried that the two boys have already caused trouble. Yankumi denies it. The others insist they never should have put a woman in that position. Ushijima takes it a step further and warns her again. “You need to be especially careful of Ogata Yamato and Kazama Ren.”

Yankumi is taken aback. “Be especially careful?” He goes on to explain that the two of them were so-called “gang leaders” in their first and second years. Tsuruoka points out that they’re probably trying to figure out which of them is the strongest.

Here Yankumi does what she does best…use intriguing vocabulary. “In other words, it’s like a Battle of Succession.”

The others are stunned. “Battle of Succession?!”

Henna_Juna summed up Yankumi’s choice of words nicely. “…So the many instances where Yankumi says something in public and everyone else looks at her funny and she has to make some excuse for saying it...I don't think they're ever necessarily bad words or dirty words or disrespectful, just different, but that difference is important because it distinguishes her, and gives her identity away.” Exactly!

For whatever reason, the entire exchange went over Baba’s head and he assures her he’ll protect her no matter what. Nurse Sakura is impressed that Baba goes for “this sort of woman.” Yankumi is not pleased. “This sort?” Baba isn't bothered at all. “Yes! This sort.” Aoi writes this less-than-pertinent information in her notebook. When Yankumi asks her what she’s writing, she says she's new. Baba offers to be the co-teacher for 3D.

“No, because I must protect my own turf.” The others are surprised again. “Turf?!”

While Yankumi freaks out, Sawatari saves her by pointing out that she loves gangster movies. Aoi writes that down, too. Ushijima could care less. He’s worries about the alleged villains in the school. “In any case, the kids in 3D are the worst, most violent bunch. Take extreme care in instructing them.”

Yankumi thinks he’s exaggerating. Tsuruoka says she feels that way because she doesn’t know them yet. Hatoyama insists that they’re probably behind a string of mugging incidents. Because the culprit is believed to be a teenager, everyone automatically suspects someone from 3D.

Yankumi can't believe what they're saying. “High school kids grow on trees.” Even so, the others think she’d be hard-pressed to find a group as bad as they are. Sawatari steps up and proclaims that if the culprit is in 3D, it would be nice if he voluntarily left school before he got arrested. Yankumi doesn’t appreciate this at all.

As she heads back to the classroom, she mutters to herself. “What the hell are they (the teachers and the Vice Principal) thinking? In the end, no matter what they say, the kids are coming to school. That's enough to prove they have potential.”

She’s got a point there. High school is not compulsory in Japan and considering that parents generally have no control over kids like this anyway, the boys, no matter how violent they are, must want to learn something. They come of their own accord.

Yankumi puts on a big smile and slides open the door. The classroom is empty and the words, “GO HOME!” are written in big roman letters on the blackboard. The other teachers might not have been exaggerating after all.

Completely deflated, she eases back into the corridor, lowers her head and softly closes the door. She realizes this will be her toughest challenge to date.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 4)

2008-06-20T05:23:42Z

Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

The next day or so, Yamaguchi goes to school, introduces herself and tells the staff she’s looking forward to working with them. The Rijichou is shocked. She can’t believe that this tiny slip of a woman can handle 3D.

In response, Yamaguchi whips her head around. Sawatari isn't bothered that much. “Er...despite her appearance, she can be quite intense when she's angry. In any case, she excels at seizing the hearts and souls of the students!”

The compliment makes Yamaguchi bashful, but Hatoyama says she can’t do it because she’s a woman. She doesn’t take that well. Tsuruoka adds, “We’re talking about ‘that 3D!’”

Yamaguchi wonders. “That?”

Sakura joins in. “She’ll be sent to the hospital in no time.” Yamaguchi echoes her. “Sent to the hospital.”

Aoi says, “Apparently, you mustn’t turn your back on them.”

Yamaguchi gets a bad feeling about this. She doesn’t want to believe what we viewers already know is true.

The Rijichou steps forward with a slightly frightening smile on her face. She says she’s counting on Yamaguchi and that she must already be prepared since she’s taking over 3D.

Now Yamaguchi’s worries for real. “Prepared?” While she’s rolling the word around her tongue, Sawatari tells her to change into her warm-ups. It finally hits her!

“Yappari! – I knew it!” Her bad feeling was justified. She was a lamb and Sawatari was leading her to slaughter.

Later, after she changes her clothes, the two of them make their way across the school grounds. Near their destination, they encounter Baba Masayoshi, the P.E. (gym) teacher from Kurogin. He’s taken over for the P.E. teacher who quit the day before. Chances are the former P.E. was previously the homeroom teacher of 3D. Gym teachers are usually asked to deal with difficult students because of their physicality.

Anyway, it’s clear Baba is still in love with Yamaguchi. She’s freaked out because his attentions are unwanted and because he knows her family secret. Thankfully, after talking to him, she realizes he’s still an airhead and he’s forgotten the secret. Instead, he’s overjoyed that fate brought them together again. As he contemplates this, the other two slip away, leaving him alone.

Sawatari points out the location of 3D and he reminds her that both their heads will depend on her success. He says they should go and meet the students, but like before, he flees with his tail between his legs, leaving her to fend for herself.

Bravely, she walks down the corridor leading to 3D, alone. Outside the door, she does her FIGHT-Oh thing by extending her hand and pumping herself up with an imaginary team with their hands piled on top of each other’s.

Then she walks through the gates of hell. The students are still noisy and creating havoc. She says good morning and they ignore her. She screams good morning and they pause just long enough for her to introduce herself. She says she’s Yamaguchi Kumiko, she teaches math, she’s single, and her nickname is Yankumi. The students could care less. They ignore her. The mayhem continues.

As she tries in vain to get them to settle down, the blond boy attempts to claim another student’s seat. His compatriot, the pimp-looking boy, Kamiya Shunsuke, cheers him on. His new nickname is Maestro.

The boy with the cinnamon-colored hair calls out the name Honjo...the blond guy. Everyone in the class freezes. As he tells Honjo to cut it out, he looks as though he’d rather be shot in between the eyes than be there. Like a good doggy, Honjo “The Muscle” Kengo follows the orders obediently.

Since the class is still froze, the potential atama, now known as Ogata “Low-Key” Yamato, rises and demands to know what the hell they’re looking at. Although significantly quieter, the others lapse into chaos again. Ogata, who appears to be carrying around a year’s worth of tension, stretches his neck. He’s a time bomb ten seconds away from exploding.

Yankumi quickly sizes up the situation and wonders if he’s the class leader. Years of experience has taught her that if she can control the head of a beast, she can control the body. Ogata is in her sights now. He’s the one she has to win over first.

She’s mistaken. A few seconds later, someone flings the door open. It’s the beautiful peacock and his chicks. He announces that they’ve arrived and the other students scurry to their seats. One even complains that he’s early. Apparently, class doesn’t begin until he gets there.

Yankumi is confused. Now she wonders if he’s the leader.

We discover that the peacock’s name is Kazama “His Prettiness” Ren. Once seated, he and his gang and Ogata’s gang glare at each other. Actually, Ogata glares. Kazama mocks him. Fearing the worst might happen right then and there; Yankumi crosses the room and asks Kazama and company if they aren’t late (things are seldom said or done directly in this society). They seem surprised that she’s speaking to them. Kazama ignores her and asks Wakatsuki, a fellow students, who she is. He says that she’s their new homeroom teacher.

Yankumi reintroduces herself. No response. Mini-peacock, Kuraki “Party” Satoru, talks about how hot Takano Aoi is. Ichimura “LuciousLips” Ririya prefers nurse Sakura. Kazama agrees, prompting Kuraki to pull out a deck of cards.

Yankumi snatches the deck away from Kuraki and tells him that cards are for break time. He gets pissed and tries to deck her. She ducks and he ends up flying across the floor. Now you can hear a pin drop. The students are completely silent. All of a sudden, they’re afraid of Yankumi.

Since her goal isn’t to beat them into submission, she pretends that someone dropped 100 yen on the floor and Kuraki went flying accidentally. After she picks it up, she forces it into Kuraki’s hands, telling him that money is important. That done, she announces she'll take attendance.

Angry, Kuraki kicks a chair and ends up hurting his ankle. Honjo and Kamiya are amused. Kuraki is incensed. He and Ichimura look to take out the others. They go at it. The class chants, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Interestingly enough, neither Ogata nor Kazama make any attempt to join in the fray. Apparently, leadership has its perks. Or perhaps they’re only required to fight each other because they’re at the top of the ladder. Ogata’s glare intensifies and Kazama continues to mock him.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 3)

2008-06-20T05:21:58Z

Homecoming

Back in the metropolis, as Sawatari struggles to carry Yamaguchi’s luggage up a hill, she introduces herself to the audience.

“My name is Yamaguchi Kumiko and I'm a high school teacher. My parents died when I was seven-years-old. Shortly after that, I was taken in and raised by my only relative, my maternal grandfather.”

Upon arriving at the front door of her home, which bears the Oedo family (Yakuza – Japanese mafia) crest, she realizes it’s been three years since she left. As she enters, she’s greeted by the sight of two of her beloved family members, Asakura Tetsu and Tatsukawa Minoru．Chucky and bald, Minoru, is sitting on Tetsu’s back giving him a shoulder rub. She softly calls out to them.

They scream, “Ojou” (young mistress), race across the room and kneel in front of her. Their joy is overwhelming. All the holidays have just rolled into one!!! Minoru immediately asks, “Did you get fired again?” Tetsu slaps him on the head and Minoru apologizes.

In Japanese manzai, or stand-up comedy, comedians often slap and hit their partners. This type of comedy is called dotsuki manzai. The roles are divided into the boke or “not with it” and the tsukkomi “clever” role. The boke always plays dumb and the tsukkomi is the know-it-all. To emphasize the difference between the two, the boke is hit on the head with the palm of a hand or slapped in the face with a rolled-up piece of paper.

Like two happy kids, Tetsu and Minoru then lurch to their feet and call for their Oyassan (Godfather of the Oedo family). Kuroda Ryuichiro, the third Oedo Godfather, comes around the corner flanked by two of his other men; Sugawara Makoto and Wakamatsu Kouzou/Hirozou/Hiromi (choose the kanji reading of your choice). Sawatari is freaked by the enthusiastic greeting Yamaguchi receives.

Kuroda is delighted to see Kumiko. When he welcomes her home, his voice is heavy with emotion. She is equally thrilled.

Later that night, Wakamatsu lovingly chastises her for not telling them she was coming home. She says if she had they would have just made a fuss. He argues that it’s natural for them to celebrate her homecoming. Tetsu says, “After all, you’ll become the fourth Oedo Godfather.” Sawatari jerks around.

Kumiko calmly reiterates what she’s already told them countless times before. She won’t be the successor. Sawatari is relieved. The others grimace in pain because she’s the only possible successor to her grandfather. When Kuroda dies, the Oedo Yakuza family line will end. Each man would have to fend for himself with another family.

Grandpa Kuroda cuts into the gloom by getting the Vice Principal’s attention and thanks him for making it possible for his grand daugther to return to teach there. Sawatari waves it off. Gratitude wasn’t necessary. Kumiko also thanks him and bows deeply. Sawatari pats her on the back.

Tetsu goes up in cgi flames and rushes forward. “Don’t you dare touch her!”

Kumiko delivers one word. “Tetsu” He backs down.

By way of apology, Wakamatsu offers Sawatari a cup of sake. He refuses. This time, Minoru goes up in cgi flames and rushes forward. “What?! Our sake isn’t good enough for you?!”

Again, Kumiko restrains him with a single word. “Minoru.” He backs down. Now that’s serious power.

Her grandfather asks even more politely for Sawatari to drink one cup. Fear and graciousness propels him to accept.

This is when Wakamastsu announces that he and the others (excluding grandpa) have a gift for Ojou. He explains that they had it made believing that one day she’d return there to teach. It represents their feelings.

Fearing the worse, she apologizes in advance and tells them that she won’t wear a kimono like Iwashita Shima (one of the gangster wives). Tetsu says it isn’t a kimono. Minoru and Makoto wave their hands in front of their faces to indicate, “That’s not it.” Kumiko is still skeptical and tells them she won’t wear purple or a hot pink suit either.

They laugh it off. Wakamatsu tells her it’s a warm-up suit. Now she’s truly pleased and then takes the monstrosity from the gift box. Oedo Family, Fourth Godfather is written on the back of the jersey. Kumiko sees herself in a vision. She’s wearing the suit and a pink headband. Head!Yankumi says, “Mathematics. I can do it all.”

She and Sawatari both say, “Impossible!/No way!” The Vice Principals wonders why they think she’d flaunt her position as the fourth Oedo Godfather. Her grandfather laughs as Tetsu goes off on the vice principal again.

One word again. “Tetsu.” He backs off. Sawatari explains that if word got out that she’s a Yakuza (a member of the mob), she’d be forced to resign.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 2)

2008-06-20T05:20:24Z

The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Enter Yamaguchi Kumiko, our heroine. She’s standing on a tree stump facing the Pacific Ocean. The view is absolutely breathtaking from atop of a mountain.

She turns around to face a group of people and give an impassioned speech. “Life is the same as this ocean. Sometimes, it's gentle. Sometimes, it's furious. The days pass like this eternally.” She briefly pauses for dramatic effect.

“Listen. Don't give up on life no matter how much suffering you endure. You have the power to overcome any adversity. Believe in your inner strength! Do you understand?”

While she honestly believes these words, they also also reflect the typical rhetoric of the（教職員組合）Kyoushokuin Kumiai (the teacher’s union).

Without warning, there’s an outburst of English. “What?” “I don’t understand!” “English please!” Now we see clearly Yamaguchi is teaching a class of international students. Unable to cope with their rapid fire of their words, she digs her dictionary from her pocket and asks them to speak slowly.

The Vice Principal, a dark-haired guy with a ponytail, appears and tells her that has a problem. She assures him she’ll study English harder. The English language is the Kyoushokuin Kumiai’s current pet project. I wonder if the writers are trying to tell us something.

He tells her English isn’t the problem. It’s something more fundamental: she teaches the students strange Japanese.

As if on cue, two girls face each other and say, “なめたら開かんぜ世- nametaraakanzeyo,” meaning “Don’t mess with me!” This is a famous line from the movie, Gokudo no Tsumatachi (Gotutsuma) – “Gangster Wives.” The word Gokusen (Gangster Teacher) is a spin-off of this title.

A boy steps forward with his hand extended. “おひかえなすって- Ohikaenasutte.” This is what two Yakuza say before they actually greet each other. Then they take a certain position and finally introduce themselves. Two different boys then clasp forearms and say, “義理と人情 – giri to ninjou,” meaning duty and compassion.

Yamaguchi wonders why the hell they only remember that Japanese.

As expected, she’s fired. The Vice Principal leads the students away and she runs after them in an effort to save her job. The VP is sarcastic. “Try English.” Arrogant bastard.

She can’t believe she was unceremoniously dumped just like that.

In the next scene, we see her struggling uphill with her luggage. She sits down at a bus stop. She’s screwed. The school probably provided room and board. Now she has neither.

As she sits there, someone approaches with a map. He asks for the directions to Gushiken International School. She gives the directions without looking at his face. It’s only when he thanks her that either of them notice the other. Of course, the man is Sawatari. Shocked, they literally jump away from each other and point, shouting each other’s names.

Now they’re sitting at a picnic table just off a dusty road. It’s quite rustic .There’s even an ox pulling a cart. Both of them are wearing polite smiles. They are Japanese, after all. Civilized people go through great lengths to avoid conflict.

Sawatari praises Yamaguchi and she hides her luggage because she doesn’t want him to know she’s been fired. After he tells her he can looking for her specifically, she tells him why she ended up there in the first place.

She’s pissed; she’s talking through her teeth. “After the Yanbanru School closed, you fled to Tokyo and got another teaching position. As for me…I barely found a position here.” She's extremely civilized.

Sawatari lowers his head on the table and begs her to return with him to Akadou Academy. She’s taken aback. He covers by saying that Akadou is such a popular academy, they don’t have enough teachers to fill the positions. She’s a tad bit skeptical, but he flatters her and begs her to consider it.

She does. “In other words, you want me to teach for you?” When he says she’s right, she faces the camera. “Lucky!” At that point, she turns the tables on him. “Since it’s you asking, I’ll do it as a favor.” This way she doesn’t have to admit she’s already been fired from the international school.

Sawatari is overjoyed. His ass is saved. Yamaguchi keeps up the pretense and says she’ll have to break the hearts of her students there. Sawatari continues to thank her. She says there’s no need for him to express gratitude. After all, they’re close friends. He doesn’t particular share that sentiment; however, he goes along with it because he thinks he’s won. Both cackle at each other, each thinking that they’ve won the battle and the war.

Abruptly, Yamaguchi bounces out of her seat and races towards the ocean. There she delivers yet another Kyoushokuin Kumiai speech. “To my precious students I haven't seen... I chose this path in order to meet you. There's no need to worry anymore. Let's laugh together, cry together, have heated debates... and pour out our hearts and souls. I'll be there soon. Wait for me!”

She’s overjoyed. Finally, she’ll have proper students in a proper high school. The poor thing is delusional.

Roll credits. English subtitles by Henna_Sapporo. Timing by Tianj. The Japanese script by Rokonoko. This is followed by an acknowledgment of the grand sponsors.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent

Page 13 - Redemption: A Leader is Born

Page 14 - To Protect What is Important

Page 15 - Salvation

Page 16 - An Uneasy Truce

G3 Ep01 (page 1)

2008-06-20T05:06:52Z

Previously on Gokusen 3: n/a

Hell is an All-Boys School

Akadou Academy (Red Bronze), like its predecessors Shirokin (White Gold) and Kurogin (Black Silver), is a private all-boys high school. On the outside, with its well-manicured lawn, it looks calm. The illusion doesn’t hold for very long because within these pristine walls lies sheer madness. For some, the storage facility for lost and forgotten boys, （三年Ｄ組）san nen D gumi (3D), is the gateway to hell.

As members of a society that values liked-mindedness above all else, these wild boys are doomed to fail. Feared by the masses, the teachers have given up on them. Administrators only tolerate them as a source of income and their families live in despair. Still, they are allowed to receive an “education.”

Safely tucked away in their own corner of the school, their classroom is both a haven and a prison. Containing them is relatively easy. In Japan, students don’t change classes. The teachers come to them.

The episode opens with a glimpse into utter chaos. The corridor leading to the classroom is littered with destruction. Within it, the young men are playing their “bad boy” roles to the hilt. Like a pack of rabid beasts, they break windows, jump across desks, parade around with a wooden gun, draw graffiti, fight, scream, and eat.

The only hint of civility can be found on a tiny portion of the blackboard. The words “opening ceremony” are written there. Perhaps there is a way to reach them.

In the midst of this chaos, we are privy to something we’ve never seen before in a Gokusen series: the establishment of the class leader. Until the “atama” (head) is clearly determined, it will be impossible to hold class. This is because Japan is not a class conscious society; it is a rank conscious society and this holds true even at school.

Nakane Chie argues in Tateshakai no ningen kankei (Japanese Society, 1970) that “the basic principle of Japanese society is any group that shares the same ba, or “frame,” and that the internal organization of such groups is a marked preference for relationships in which the constituent members tied vertically.” The consciousness of ranks plays an important part in the maintenance of social order.

In this case, there must be an atama and that atama will be served by a “committee” (my definition) and the class will follow their leads. In this way, everyone knows their place. In addition, without the atama as a mediator/negotiator, the teacher doesn’t have a chance.

So here we are with six boys squaring off in the back of the classroom. Two are vying for the position of atama. One must yield.

A pretty boy with cinnamon-colored hair and a small face is flanked by two lieutenants. Something akin to naked hatred emanates from the bottom of his young soul. His two friends, one with dyed blond hair and the other who is dressed like a pimp, mimic his stance.

The second group is headed by a peacock. Arrogant and beautiful, dressed in black, red and purple, he does not wither under the hate-filled stares. Instead, he seems to savor the moment. His two companions follow suit.

Despite the intensity, neither group advances towards the other. The time hasn’t come yet.

It’s unlikely a normal high school, which is three years (10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades), has a notorious 3D class (3^rd year, D classroom). Students are sometimes assigned to classes A, B, C, D, and so forth based on the entrance exams. Under this system, the top 30 students are assigned to class A, the next 30 are in B, and so forth. Others schools might put the top 30 in class A and then scatter the remaining students among B, C, D.

Cut to the faculty room. Three men and two women discuss whether or not a new teacher can control “that 3D” class. This gets the attention of a young cute female teacher. She’s new, too. “What do you mean by ‘that’ 3D?” Someone explains that 3D a collection of students who were troublemakers in the first and second years. She understands and she writes this information in her notebook.

If the new teacher can subdue 3D, it would be a miracle. That person will truly be a savior.

While they talk, a person in running shoes and warm-ups is headed down the 3D corridor. As the person enters the classroom, the students briefly end their campaign of terror and concentrate on the new arrival. The teacher slides the door shut. We smile. We know who it is. It’s her! Wonder!Woman. She’s there to rescue them!

Then the camera pans upwards to reveal finally the teacher.

The background music aptly reflects our disappointment at seeing vice Principal Sawatari Goro (surname first). He introduces himself and tells the students he’ll take over their class, too. The boys are less than impressed. Sawatair orders them to take their seats. At first, they ignore him. He yells and they follow suit. Even thugs-in-progress can respect authority. Sawatari then congratulates himself with a fist pump.

Then he buries himself by attempting to give one of her signature speeches. “There's only one more year left of an important period in your life. You guys don't realize yet how precious this coming year is going to be. I am going to teach you. Let us share together, the efforts of our souls!”

The students are moved... moved enough to throw his ass out the door and down the corridor head first. Clearly, they aren’t going to take that shit. At least, not from him.

Back in the faculty room, the other teachers hover over Sawatari, concerned. Takano Aoi asks, “Are you all right, vice Principal Saruwatari?” Offended, he immediately corrects her. “It’s Sawatari.” She writes this down, too.

The word “saru” means “monkey” in Japanese. Hee.

Sawatari then screeches in pain as the cutesy school nurse, Ayukawa Sakura, administers to his injured arm.

Poor Ushijima Hosaku can’t believe that someone like Sawatari has failed. The students are absolutely dreadful. Tsuruoka Keisuke jumps in out of the blue to warn Aoi to be careful of the boys, too. Apparently, they eat sweet little English teachers for breakfast.

The nurse confirms this by telling her that they never show respect to teachers. Ushijima tells her to never turn her back on them. She dutifully writes this down. An elderly geezer, Hatoyama Yasuhiko and Tsuruoka are impressed by Aoi’s brand-new-teacher enthusiasm.

A female voice rangs out. “I never thought you’d fail my expectations from day one.” Enter the Rijichou (Chairman of the Board/Superintendent/Fund-raiser). Dressed in a severe black outfit with just a hint of a white shirt, her tone almost guarantees that Sawatari’s days are numbered. The other teachers respectfully say, “Good morning” and bows.

Her name is Akagi Ryoko and she makes it clear that she was led to believe that Sawatari had successfully graduated countless troublemakers at Shirokin and Kurogin academies. A new tone in her voice causes the others to raise their heads as Sawatari assures her he did.

She sighs in resignation. “At this rate, you too, may share the fate of our principal.” Sawatari wonders what she means by “the same fate.” The other teachers turn to stare at the empty Kouchou (Principal’s desk). Sakura clarifies that the principal was fired because he was useless.

The Rijichou turns to walk away. The others bow again. Sawatari begs for his job. He tells her that he knows of a teacher who could subdue (nice choice of words) the students. Naturally, he’s speaking of her and her incredible intensity.

Pleased, the Rijichou turns back and walks up to him, violating his private space and wonders if he can bring such an inspiring teacher to their academy. He assures her that he can. The others cheer silently in the background. The Rijichou doesn’t hold back. If it doesn't happen, he's a goner.

Page 1 - Hell is an All-Boys School

Page 2 - The Return of Yamaguchi Kumiko

Page 3 - Homecoming

Page 4 - Don’t Turn Your Back on Them

Page 5 - Taking It All In

Page 6 - Cheers, Crime and Boyz on the Loose

Page 7 - The Red Thread

Page 8 - Misconduct, Punishment and a Lie

Page 9 - Sinking Fast

Page 10 - The Truth Revealed

Page 11 - A Teacher’s Quest

Page 12 - The Fight to Save an Innocent