TokiDoki

Name: Dragon Zakura
Genre: Drama, School Life
Year: 2005
Rating: Enjoyable

A former motorcycle gang member named Sakuragi Kenji is now a lawyer. Although he isn’t very successful one day opportunity strikes. Ryuuzan Highschool is know for their low average scores and failing delinquents. Due to its lack of attracting new studentsand their bad reputation as a institute of learning Ryuuzan is about to close down due to bankruptcy. However Sakuragi believes that with his methods of teaching he is able to send a select few students to Japans most prestigious university, Tokyo University (Toudai). As a means of boosting his career, Sakuragi promises that there will be five successful Toudai applicants at the end of the year.

There has been allot of live-action serials about a former delinquent becoming a teacher. However I find that many of them like the popular GTO and Gokusen have their protagonist an enthusiastic character who will do anything to assist their students. However Dragon Zakura is different in this aspect, Sakuragi is more interested in his own personal benifit and instead of being a positive and encouraging teacher Sakuragi is a stern character who often puts his students down. However you will soon see that behind the harsh teaching methods Sakuragi is a person who is determined to see the success of his pupils. I had some trouble deciding whether this series is a comedy or not. Although the series does have light hearted moments there isn’t really anything that will make you laugh. Unlike some other similar titles this series is more focused on the study part of the education system. Though we get glimpses of each students lives, the troubles they face are not as thoroughly displayed as in similar genres like the ones mentioned above. The characters are very well crafted which is probably the strongest point in this series. But I guess if you aren’t into watching people study you might like to give this series a pass.