[From March Issue 2015]

Gokusen
In this comedy YAMAGUCHI Kumiko is an unconventional teacher working at Shirokin Gakuin boy’s high school. The title “Gokusen” signifies that Kumiko is both the female heir to a crime syndicate and a school teacher. It was serialized from 2000 through to 2007 in the comic magazine “YOU.” It was adapted into a TV drama and movie, and through these works many actors became well-known.
A teacher at Shirokin Gakuin – a school with many problem children – Kumiko is put in charge of class four of the second year (junior year). The students proceed to make fun of seemingly mild-mannered Kumiko. One day when student KUMAI Teruo is attacked by senior year students, Kumiko comes to his rescue. Soon everybody comes to adore the hot-headed Kumiko. While helping out Kumiko, student leader SAWADA Shin finds out about Kumiko’s shady background.
Since her parents died in a traffic accident, Kumiko was left in the care of her grandfather KURODA Ryuichiro from a young age. The Kuroda clan, which her grandfather leads, has an excellent legal adviser called SHINOHARA Tomoya. Owing a debt of gratitude to Kumiko’s grandfather, Shinohara has remained in the underworld and during this time Kumiko has continued to hold a torch for him. Though she has the support of the clan’s henchmen, this romance does not develop.
As class four year two begins to come together as a group, Shirokin Gakuin’s future becomes uncertain. The school board chairman stops recruiting students for the next fiscal year and it’s rumored that the school is due to close. Angered by the news, Kumiko makes the board chairman write out a contract stating that if the school becomes number one in a sport or in a humanities subject within two months, the closure will be cancelled.
Though still having difficulty dealing with her students, with the help of the other teachers Kumiko begins to take charge. Kumiko and Sawada set up a boxing club, and challenge Japan’s most prestigious school to a match. Thinking that the team wouldn’t be able to win by playing fair, Kumiko uses underhand methods during the match. After securing a victory Shirokin Gakuin escapes closure.
During graduation Kumiko’s background come to light and she is forced to resign. Shinohara who has decided to return to Hokkaido because of his father’s illness asks the depressed Kumiko to marry him. But Kumiko elects to part with Shinohara when her students desperately plead with her to attend their graduation. Later, thanks to the efforts of the principal and her co-workers, she returns to Shirokin Gakuin.
The spirited protagonist is strong in a fight, but when it comes to love is completely clueless. So much so that she isn’t aware of her student Sawada’s affection for her until the last episode. After the series ended, special episodes were published several times. The growth of their mutual affection is depicted in these episodes.
Text: KAWARATANI Tokiko[2015年3月号掲載記事]

ごくせん
男子高校、白金学院の型破りな教師、山口久美子が活躍するコメディ。「ごくせん」は、久美子が極道の跡取り娘で、また、先生であることを意味しています。まんが雑誌YOUで2000年から2007年まで連載されました。テレビドラマや映画も制作され、俳優の多くは、この作品をきっかけに人気が出ました。
問題児が集まる白金学院の教師になった久美子は2年4組の担任になります。生徒達は地味な印象の久美子をばかにします。あるとき、生徒の熊井輝夫が3年生に襲われますが、久美子に助け出されます。やがて熱血漢あふれる久美子を、皆は慕うようになります。リーダー格の沢田慎は久美子の手助けをするうちに、久美子の裏の稼業を知ってしまいます。
久美子は両親が交通事故で亡くなったため、幼い頃に祖父の黒田龍一郎に引き取られました。祖父が取りまとめる黒田一家には、篠原智也という優秀な顧問弁護士がいます。祖父への恩義のために裏世界にいる篠原に対して久美子は一途な恋心を持ち続けます。子分達も応援しますが、恋愛には発展しないままです。
2年4組が団結を見せるなか、白金学院が存続の危機を迎えます。理事長が来年度の生徒募集をやめ、閉校にすると言い出したのです。怒った久美子は、2ヵ月の間に学問、スポーツ芸術で日本一になれば撤回すると、理事長に証文を書かせます。
生徒達に手を焼きながらも、他の教師と共に指導を始めます。久美子は沢田とボクシング部を立ち上げ、日本一の名門校と試合を行います。まともな方法では勝てないと思った久美子は、試合で裏技を使います。無事に勝利をおさめた白金学院は、閉校を免れたのでした。
卒業の時期になって、久美子の裏の顔が皆に知られてしまい、退職に追い込まれます。父親が倒れたため北海道へ帰る決心をした篠原は、落ち込む久美子にプロポーズします。卒業を見届けてほしいと言う生徒達の必死の説得に、久美子は篠原との別れを選びます。その後、校長や同僚の働きかけのおかげで、白金学院へ戻ることになります。
男勝りの主人公は、けんかには強いのですが、恋愛には疎いキャラクターです。最終回でやっと教え子である沢田からの恋心に気づくほどです。連載終了後も、何度か番外編が掲載されました。そこでは相思相愛になる様子が描かれています。
文：瓦谷登貴子