Kou kou kyoushi

A delicate subject: about the challenges and pitfalls of working at an all-girls high school. A new biology teacher (Hiroyuki Sanada) is falling in love with a lovely, possessive student (Sachiko Sakurai), while a fellow teacher (Maaki Miyamoto) blackmails the object of his affection (Noriko Watanabe). It's hardly light subject matter, but it's handled with sensitivity when it could have easily fallen prey to its potential pitfalls.

The acting is first-rate, and even the younger roles have surprising depth. That said, there's also a self-conscious seriousness that squeezes every bit of humor or brightness from the drama. The filmmakers knew they were making a controversial project, and seem to have done their best to show their seriousness - at the expense of a balanced mood.

What it does best is to show the varying standards or "moral" behavior in a culture what is still trying to weigh issues like honesty and dishonesty, purity and defilement, and youth vs. maturity. I don't believe that the drama was exploitative in the least, but certain cliches in doramas (like making characters silent only until dramatic exposition is needed) can be tiresome.

KOU KOU KYOUSHI is too serious for its own good; emotional breadth would have given this a dimension it almost always lacks.

This drama is very dark. Don't let anyone tell you different. Don't think you will walk away from this in a cheerful mood because you won't (If you do get therapy!!!). The acting was incredible. Perfect performances by all. The music really stuck with me as well. This drama is packed with powerful emotions.

Some of the finest acting ever in this dark and interesting drama. A really important story and you can't help but feel conflicted while watching this. I highly recommend.