Taiyo to Umi no Kyoshitsu (2008)

I chose this drama because the plot seemed entertaining. I was expecting the usual Japanese school drama. You know the fluffy, silly comedy. What I got was so much better. This is a story about a teacher who comes to a high school by the seashore and shakes up the daily routine of the students and faculty there. Yeah, I know. That plot has been done before, numerous times. What makes this drama different and special though, is the way the story is told. We get to know and care about each individual student. We watch each one face obstacles and also learn about thier hopes and dreams. We see them gradually start opening thier hearts and minds to Sakurai Sensei, and to the world around them. Ultimately, we watch them grow up, experience joy and grief.

What is really interesting, also, is that this drama shows how the education system is warped in Japan. How many schools focus only on teaching what is on the exams for the sole purpose of getting the most students into prestigious universities while neglecting to teach other educational material, such as history and physical education for example. This no doubt creates enormous pressure on students to devote themselves to studying, ignoring everything else.

Out of all the high school themed dramas I have watched so far, Taiyo to Umi no Kyoshitsu is by far one of the most realistically portrayed dramas. I highly, highly reccommend this to anyone looking for heartwarming, coming of age drama without all the over the top silliness.

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