Yuki Amami plays Maya Akutsu, a sixth-grade teacher who dresses all in black and is repeatedly referred to as "oni sensei" (the teacher from hell), when, in fact, she seems to be an ultrarealist at heart. The drama focuses on a year in her classroom and, particularly, the effect it has on 12-year-old Kazumi--a nice but mediocre student whose parents want to send her to a private secondary school. Akutsu-sensei accomplished this feat by introducing a test-based rank and privilege system on the first day. The highest scorers on the Monday morning test get their choice of seats and other perks while the two lowest scorers are burdened with all the chores for the week from blackboard and toilet cleaning to serving lunch. The system also disallows toilet breaks during class because this reflects an inability to manage one's own schedule. Kazumi gets the first week's work assignment along with the class clown, a warmhearted boy who is not nearly as silly as he acts. The child actors in the series are all likeable pros who give realistic portrayals of the wide spectrum of an average classroom from the isolated serious students to the sophisticated girls who think they already know what life is all about. Akutsu-sensei lets them know immediately that they do not have a clue. When the students protest her system and call it unfair, she tells them to open their eyes. In Japanese society, she lectures, those who work hard or have influence get all the privileges, and the lazy or less affluent end up with the leftovers. She says only six in 100 people can expect to be happy and the elite already have most of the advantages and access to the best medical care. She tells them that, as products of the public school system, they will have to scramble to get anything at all, and most of them will end up as "bonjin" (ordinary people), to whom those on the top will be happy to leave the soldiering and service-sector jobs. - dramawiki

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  In The Know with Purplenette

  The latest on airing and upcoming dramas and movies.

  • 17 days ago

• Jun 18, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen

  Farah
  20 of 20 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  10
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  7
  • Rewatch Value  10

  Jyoou no Kyoushitsu is a drama which is intense,significant,educative and addictive.
  The main attraction of this drama is that it is an exception to the typical school dramas. All Japanese classroom dramas so far have been about the teacher saving the students from their own folly.On the other hand, Akutsu Maya-sensei is the teacher no one ever wants to have.She's Brilliant, manipulative, obsessive, and dead set on making sure that the students fall in line with her rules.
  
  Another good point is unpredictability. The Queen's Classroom breaks from traditional drama with an apparently evil teacher who is out to prove that the world is a harsh place, and so is her classroom.She's a cunning and calculative teacher and systematically removes the parental and academic protection the children had enjoyed, and forces them to deal with their problems themselves.
  
  The Queen's Classroom" is an astonishingly well elaborated and smart drama series, which points at the bad condition at Japanese schools or certain deficiencies in Japanese society in general, and does so in a very entertaining way. The show isn't just thought-provoking;it is also very touching, appealing and persuasive concerning its message.
  
  Last but not least is the outstanding cast. Amami Yuki, the actress who plays Akutsu Maya, did exceptionally well in portraying such a devilish teacher. I think it's because She did so well that for the end credits of each episode, they decided to show her after a take and smiling, a facial expression only used when she does something particularly "evil "!!
  Shida Mirai did an excellent job as the innocent-minded child. she's incredibly adorable and became my favorite teenage Japanese actress after this drama.
  The two specials were indeed very special and did an awesome job in explaining the reasons why the characters acted the way they did.They reveal all they mysteries,answer all the questions and justify all the actions.
  
  I can write so many things in praise of this drama!! But it’s very hard to continue without giving spoilers.
  
  This is a drama which everybody should watch.If you believe that this is a show solely for teenagers or even children, only because almost all of the main actors aren't older than twelve and drop it half way then you are mistaken. It’s only if u watch it till the end then you would realize how ‘not-childish’ this drama is! This series suffers from minor defects in the story line but nothing is perfect and please don't give unnecessary importance to these occasional faults and belittle this great drama.
  Although the atmosphere throughout the series is quite dark, Queen's Classroom is actually one hell of an entertaining show!Hope you'll enjoy this wonderful 'monogatari' as much as I did. read more

  report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful
• Aug 30, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen

  TheTranquilKnight
  9 of 9 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  10
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  8
  • Rewatch Value  10

  I recommend this show to everyone but I specially recommend this show to teenagers. I gave 10 ratings to many dramas & movies but it looks like I need to change their ratings…
  
  Now, review:
  ‘The Queen’s Classroom’ is my only second Japanese drama, first drama was ‘Bloody Monday’. I enjoyed this show more than any other show. The story is very meaningful. It changed my views for importance of study, life and past-present-future. It is pessimistic and also optimistic; realistic and also idealistic. Every character in the drama and all 24 students have their own dream and problem to solve. They learned some important lessons as the time passed. Speech in last episode is very thoughtful, and it’ll create huge impact on you.
  
  The actors were also amazing. The actress who plays Maya is both lovely and really talented. I can’t help myself fall in love with Shida Mirai. All kids are wonder kids; every kid played their role perfectly with emotions as if they are really in that situation and everything is happening to them.
  
  All the episodes are extremely touching and made me cry, tears weren't falling because of only sadness but tears were falling because of happiness also. I highly recommend this drama to everyone. It’s one of the most meaningful stories I've ever seen and really makes you think about teaching, learning, and life. There are many great moments but ending scene of Maya in last episode is epic.
  
  As I mentioned already that I enjoyed this show more than any other show. I believe that there isn't any drama better than this (maybe ‘1 Liter of Tears’ but I haven’t seen it yet). I hope they’ll air this show someday in India.
  
  If you haven’t completed this show yet then start it now……and don't forget to watch specials………"Tee Hee"!!! read more

  report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful

• 
  ROOKIES

  A teacher, who is all smiles, turns thug kids into a baseball team.

  reportRecommended by TIffTaro
• 
  LIFE

  Both drama deal with school life and bullying.But Queen's Classroom is more realistic, intense, significant and has a wonderful story.

  reportRecommended by Farah