Fan reviews: Dragon Zakura

mrsmith10 · 28 May 2011

This drama screams the word ridiculous. From annoying minor characters to ludacris teaching methods to the over the top "bad school."

To start with, I found Abe Hiroshi's character to be a preachy douchbag. He tried to install tough love and discipline into his students but his constant preaching and bickering to the students was way over the top. Instead, he comes off as an ego-driven character who thinks he's some big hot shot. The discipline factor here is not as well done as movies like Gridiron Gang or Coach Carter.

Furthermore I found most of the minor characters annoying, especially the teachers at the school (except for Hagesawa Kyoko's character), and the extremely whiney principal. Not to mention the extremely over the top teachers that Abe's character brung in, who came off as Gandalf the Math teacher, an Albert Einstein rip-off for a Physics teacher, and a break-dancing bar owner as an English teacher. I also felt that even the worst school to be "full of idiots" was also too over the top and unrealistic for my taste.

The student characters themselves were ok, and somewhat redeemed the show for me. I was initially drawn in by Gakky, but I found her character somewhat problematic. At first she iritated me with her constant jealousy and her extreme reliance on Yamapi's character. However, she changed a bit over the course of the series so I didn't mind her as much towards the end. Yamapi's character I was a bit mixed on. He was the driving force of the students in the special class, but his acting in this drama just comes off as boring. He's pretty good in Code Blue but here he's just a flake. I did like Maki, Hideki, and Ichiro, and could sympathize with all of them due to their struggles. However, the one character I really did like was Nagasawa Masami's character, Naomi. With her struggles with her mom at first doubting her then later getting sick and becoming hospitalized. Plus she felt like the one legitimate character that wasn't over the top to begin with. I was really dissapointed when she fell short at the end and wasn't able to complete her exam.

Overall, there are some good things about this drama. I feel the storyline could have worked, but all the over the top ludacrisy really drags it down. I give it 5.5/10.

ester_grace · 28 Nov 2010

It's fun if we can use the same method of study like them, we never get bored and will become easier to understand.

jdoramadotcom · 27 Mar 2010

Nagazawa Masami and Abe Hiroshi are the two more welcome aspects of this light drama, which follows in the huge footsteps of GTO and Gokusen. But while the latter are among the most successful dramas ever, expectations are high.

I liked Abe Hiroshi's over-the-top performance as a lawyer who tries to revive a dying, under-achieving high school - really, the perfect actor for the role. Nagasawa is always charming, but especially so as a mediocre student destined for a no-future life. But the writing isn't as sharp or clever than it might be, the situations not as dramatic. Several of the incidents impel one to use the fast-forward button more than usual. It's not surprising that Dragon Zakura didn't get any sequels or specials.

Pie-Chanz · 20 Apr 2009

Love This Drama soo Much!
Ahh~ YamaPi acT veRY" CooL!!!!><
I Like how they try to do their best!

kurtzky · 1 Dec 2008

this drama is very disappointing...doesn't have a good ending...hope they'll make an SP for this to justify the theme...

mr_dreamboy · 27 Nov 2008

especially if you are still in high school or even in school and you need motivation, watching this drama is pretty motivational

doublemask · 6 Oct 2008

Typical drama where a teacher inspires students to work hard and be successful in school and life. It was refreshing to see Abe Hiroshi tell them about the harsh reality instead of the usual "inspiring words/be positive" routine which is usually seen in most of these kind of dramas. Because what he says in the drama reflects what it happening in the real world. However, it does get boring after a while. First few episodes were interesting but halfway through the drama, ended up fast forwading most it. Disappointing ending too. For a more satisfying drama, go for Gokusen or GTO. Watch this if you're a Abe Hiroshi, Yamashita Tomoshia or Koike Teppei fan.

MintCeres · 10 Sep 2008

well, i've seen a lot of school-dramas until now but none of them struck me leit d.z. did. In most doramas I missed the link to reality... most seemed really fake. but here you have a nice view into japanese society and into the educational system. The system of my homecountry (germany) is very different from the japanese so I cannot compare anything. I just can say that those "entrance exams" seem to be very important in japan and that the right choice of school is so important that it affects your whole future life. in germany its not at all like that. everyone who finishes highschool and passes the final exams can go to university 8ok, there are limits in terms of which grades you have, but its not as strict as in japan).

I really think it is a well-made drama, with good links to reality. the ending can be seen as disappointing, but those who have seen it must know - as i do - that it had to be link that, otherwise it wouldn't have been realistic.

another point ist: good-looking guys :D I only want to mention yamapi :D:D interesting role, he had the right age when he war starring in this drama. and teppei ... gosh nice hairstyle ;)

Limes · 6 Nov 2007

I thought that this drama reflected how much emphasis Japan places on education. Unfortunately, I can't agree less with the way this drama has made it seem that getting into Tokyo Uni is the key to everyone's success. And the fact that they just want to get into the uni, never mind what course they're going to study and whether they will like it or not, gets a thumbs down from me. Thumbs up though, for the creative studying techniques employed.

I found Hiroshi Abe's character to be a cross between GTO and Gokusen. He acted the character well, but I do not like the character himself. Half the time I did not agree with his speeches, and the other half I had no idea what he was trying to preach about. Hasegawa Kyoko's character is very much like Yamaguchi Kumiko of Gokusen in the sense that she loves her students too much, but minus the kick-ass attitude. The six students acted well though I found Yamapi to be a bit of a bore. Saeko and Koike were my favourites because of their energy and cheer. I hated the rest of the annoying teachers and the irritating Principal; they were probably put in for comedy but their antics were a big turn off.

I actually thought the ending was good because it was realistic. And although the final speech contrasted to the whole idea of 'Todai = success', I appreciated that they emphasized too that life isn't all about studying, and that other options are available.

saru92 · 5 Oct 2007

It actually..kinda..gives you more feeling and more force on studying more..keke..The actors/actresses were cool,so was the setting and the plot line~

afiqwitri · 19 Sep 2007

Another learning and teaching base dorama...
quite interesting...but somehow it started to become slow...
however, it is useful for those who wants to prepare for their coming examination...haha~~
besides, many great caster~!
probably not one of my best Jdrama...huhu
very dissappointed with the ending....ARGGGHH~~!!

shari · 11 Sep 2007

An ill-conceived high school drama in which teachers act like asylum patients and students suffer an epidemic of bad hairdos. The endless lectures are taken right out of the Idiot's Guide to Tokyo-U Entrance Exam, and if they succeed in activating an idiot's brain, they're more likely to deactivate yours.

mikomiko123 · 17 Jul 2007

This drama is very good, its inspirational, informative and heartwarming.. abe hiroshi-san is a very good actor and that role suited him best.

saDguRL20 · 12 Jun 2007

i love this drama because it taught me many ways how to study... and i LoVe tePpei!!!!

moeru_h · 1 Jun 2007

Of all school dramas I've seen, this by far, is the only drama that gives you real information about school, which is studying techniques. And it sticks so much to realism, even sometimes you think it's down to pessimism, that this is the kind of advice one really needs to survive life. What people might call painful reality. But of course, this drama is also full of hope. Unlike false hopes other school dramas portray. Excellent drama. I can't wait to read its manga.
Abe Hiroshi was great as Sakuragi. And the actors as the 6 students were as great. I hope they create a sequel. But I don't think they'll do that.

ninjavsself · 30 May 2007

I think Abe Hiroshi is one of the best JDrama actors out there so it always pleases me to see him in something. This is a slightly inspirational tale if a bit weighed down by some of the students. Particularly that annoying trumpet player. He brings down everything he's in.

l0nEr · 16 Mar 2007

I didn't have high expectations for this drama actually (maybe thats why it came out expectantly better). Currently having a 2 years break from school, so kind of missed the studying and exam environment. This drama kind of remind me of such times... and it is a very unique drama. I wouldnt think it as something like GTO or Gokusen (Gokusen 1 & 2 are disappointing). And i do not really think that there are much exam tips from the drama, so don't bother if u are just looking to score well...

KAITO KED · 2 Feb 2007

I learned many things from this drama ^^

toykimura · 3 Dec 2006

As an educator, this program was excruciating to watch at times. Listening to adults berate and insult teenagers in order to make them work harder is painful -- teachers in my country would be subject to dismissal for like conduct -- and yet here in America we coddle and baby our teens to an extent that academically we are a world-wide laughing-stock. I'm torn. This wasn't a lot of fun for me, but at the same time it was difficult to turn away. I'm a Nakao Akiyoshi fan, so I stuck with it. I think that others will appreciate the drama, also.

Wynter · 6 Nov 2006

Here we have another school drama that focuses on reforming gbadh kids, but unlike the more popular Gokusen and GTO series, this one deals with the reality that is life. In a very harsh, yet effective way, Sakuragi Kenji (played by Abe Hiroshi) reminds the six students of his special class that idiots are cheated every step of the way, and because theyfre idiots there is nothing they can do about it.

The storyline deals with the system of society in which the most educated, no matter socially impaired, are cherished, and the stupid, no matter how kind, are frowned upon. As a teacher myself, I found Sakuragi-senseifs style of teaching really interestingc and at times absurd. Itfs fun to watch the cause/effects in this drama.

I was disappointed in the end. The two students who failed were the two I wanted most to pass. It seems that the powers that be wanted to stay away from the clicheL ending where everyone succeeds and lives happily ever after, but I thought, after watching their suffering, that perhaps this clicheL would suffice. Guess not.