Kansai TV and Fuji TV 65th Anniversary Special Drama "GTO Revival" Production Announcement

A special drama celebrating the 65th anniversary of the launch of Kansai TV and Fuji TV will be broadcast at Fuji TV Wangan Studio in Tokyo on Saturday, March 2, 2024."GTO Revival"A production announcement press conference was held.
The TV series "GTO," which first aired in 1998, is being revived for the first time in 26 years as a one-night special drama.

The production announcement press conference featured cast members Takashi Sorimachi, Sae Okazaki, Shinya Kote, Rikako Yagi, Megumi Hata, and Wataru Hinata. Yuta Yamazaki served as the MC.

With the broadcast date of April 1st fast approaching, we spoke to the cast members in detail about how they felt when they were chosen to appear in the series, stories from the set, and the highlights of the series.

◼︎Please tell us how you feel about playing Onizuka for the first time in 26 years.

Sorimachi: I've been asked several times before, "What do you think about reviving 'GTO'?" However, I felt that it was precisely because 26 years have passed that I could say what I wanted to say, or rather, I felt that I could speak more deeply about it myself. I was also very interested in what kind of message Onizuka could deliver to children at this most important time in their lives.

◼︎How did you feel when you were chosen to appear?

Yagi-san: I wasn't even born when "GTO" was broadcast, so I couldn't watch it in real time, but I often watched it on reruns and DVDs. To be honest, I was honored but also humbled to be able to appear as a student in such a work. However, on the set, Onizuka-sensei always remained as Onizuka-sensei, so I was able to jump in with peace of mind.

Kote: I was genuinely happy when I was chosen to appear in the film. This time, I play the vice principal of the high school where Onizuka-sensei is assigned, so I tried my best to be as unique as the impact of the previous film. During filming, I had discussions with Sorimachi-san, and I feel that we were able to successfully establish each other's characters.

◼︎What are your thoughts on playing the role?

Okazaki: This is my first time playing a teacher, so to be honest, I was quite nervous. At the same time, I was only playing student roles until recently, so there were moments when I felt a bit emotional, thinking, "Finally, I'm playing a teacher..." On set, Mr. Onizuka always took the lead, and I think he supported all the cast members many times.

Hinata: I played the role of a student at the private Sotoku Academy High School where Onizuka-sensei is assigned. I was already familiar with the work "GTO," so I was just excited to be acting alongside Onizuka-sensei throughout filming. However, there were scenes where we were in conflict as teacher and student, so I had to hold back and act with a sense of tension during filming.

◼︎What was your student life like?

Sorimachi: I've been devoting my days to soccer since I was in the second grade of elementary school. At the time, there was a culture that you shouldn't drink water even if you were thirsty... I remember not being able to hydrate even during midsummer games, and having to rely on water from the sink in the bathroom (laughs).

Okazaki: I was a student who enjoyed events to the fullest. At school festivals and sports festivals, I would take the initiative to practice on my own, or work hard at a sewing machine to make costumes. I never forgot to enjoy even the smallest things, and I lived my student life with the determination to have fun from the start.

Student Newspaper Online, May 2, 2024, Interview by Miyu Ito, 4th year student at Keio University