A new live-action TV drama based on Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) by Tooru Fujisawa will premiere in Japan on July 20, 2026, on Kansai TV. Actor Takashi Sorimachi will return as Eikichi Onizuka, the main character. He first played the role in the original 1998 TV drama.
Sorimachi said he sees this project as a new challenge, as the older version of Onizuka was never shown in the original story. He hopes to meet fans’ expectations and bring a meaningful message to today’s audience.
Manga creator Tooru Fujisawa also shared his excitement. He is curious to see how Onizuka, a former delinquent from an older generation, will deal with the problems of modern students.
Sorimachi already came back as Onizuka in a special episode in April 2024. Now, he will star again in a brand-new series. The original creative team is also returning, including writer Kazuhiko Yukawa, director Satoru Nakajima, and producer Kazuhisa Ando.
The original GTO manga was published from 1996 to 2002 in Weekly Shonen Magazine, with a total of 25 volumes. The first live-action adaptation aired in 1998 and became very popular.
This new story shows Onizuka in his 50s, facing modern challenges in the Reiwa era. The setting is Seishin Private Academy, a school run with strict rules, digital systems, and communication through tablets.
Source: Comic Natalie
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 by Tooru Fujisawa will premiere in Japan on July 20, 2026, on Kansai TV. Actor Takashi Sorimachi will return as Eikichi Onizuka, the main character.){kind=link}