The Queen's Classroom (TV Mini Series 2005–2006) Poster

(2005–2006)

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7/10
Best acting by the pre-teenage kids
ebiros213 August 2012
The main character of this series Maya Akutsu could only have been played by the imposing 5'8" Yuki Amami. Nobody else would have been convincing in this role.

It's a new school year, Kazumi Kanda (Mirai Shida), and Erika Satoh (Hikari Kajiwara) are looking forward to their new school year. They're hoping that Shiori Tendo (Sachie Hara) would be their new classroom teacher. But instead, they hear a rumor about a new teacher who is like a demon. They're hoping that they won't end up in her class. But they also hear a conflicting rumor that she's a really good teacher. Kazumi, and Erika ends up in her class. On the first day, Maya Akutsu, the new teacher laid down the rule. She would give an exam every week, and the two lowest grade student will be doing all the odd jobs around the class. Kazumi and her buddy Yusuke Manabe (Naruki Matsukawa) becomes the regular at this job. Maya further divides the class into group of six. In Kazumi's group, there was Hikaru Shindo (Mayuko Fukuda). She's a top student, but also has courage to match. She sides with Kazumi, and gets black listed. Kazumi's classmates are now in survival mode, and acts selfishly. But Kazumi tries to maintain the friendships amongst the classmates.

This series made two new stars - Mirai Shida, and Mayuko Fukuda who were only 12, and 11 at the time. Them, along with Naruki Matsukawa might have been the real star of the show. Without them, the series wouldn't have been as successful.

It's an unlikely story, but when the society becomes so dark, maybe we need teacher like Maya Akutsu to set things right.

I enjoyed the show watching the kids in action. They really were even match to the character of Maya Akutsu. Watch the show to see their stellar acting.
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8/10
Very good series. lots of spoilers
martin-fennell7 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I write this as a guy who left school many many many many years ago. This is a series which I suspect adults and those still attending school will have different views about. If I was a child, I would hate the character of Maya, and see her as a big bully. Picking on the poor kids, particularly in the early episodes. But as an adult I have a different view. From the first episode, I could see she was a great teacher. Yes, there were incidents that made me dislike her. (1) Not allowing Hazumi to go the toilet. But as she said, she knew kids roamed the hall instead of going to the loo. So I'll forgive her that one. (2) Not allowing the kids to have a summer break. Well actually it was more that she was going to continue teaching during the summer. It was up to the kids whether they came or not. (3) The tests. Actually I'm not sure whether that was a bad or good thing. But the good things she did far outweigh the bad. She gets Kanda and Yusuke to clean up after school because they have the lowest marks in the test. Now maybe I'm reading too much into this. But in a later episode when we find out, how lonely Yusuke really is, wasn't that just a way of getting the two of them together. Then she gets the most intelligent girl in the class to do chores with Yusuke. We find out later that this girl is afraid to have friends. Then There is the manga drawing artist who doesn't believe anyone can be friends with her. What does this hated teacher do. She brings them all together. Yet she calls another female teacher an idealist. Later on, one of the other teachers calls her an idealist. You wonder if in fact, she is the bigger idealist. The most important line in the drama is probably where another female teacher,(the one that Maya called an idealist) says to Maya that it doesn't really matter whether or not teachers are thought of as bad or good by those they are teaching now. But how in ten or twenty years, those pupils will look back on that teacher. Of course for all it's realism, this is still a drama, and so we get to know the pupils opinions long before that. Another thing, the pupils consider Maya to be mean, but the meanest of all are the pupils themselves. The acting is good. There are no extraordinary performances. The lead actress has a great character to play, which could have been turned to a caricture, but isn't. I'd like to see her in other stuff. Overall, This is a beautifully written, intelligent series which will make you think.
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8/10
Perfect execution of a great script Warning: Spoilers
Joou no kyoushitsu is one of the best Japanese television dramas.

The drama is about a class of sixth graders facing a "demonic teacher". I think already the scenario will please most people, because almost everybody of us can somehow identify with this situation. Well, but of course there is a lot more to this series than that.

First of all, the script is superb. Every episode is suspenseful, and gives you stuff to think about. Did any of your teachers ever told you something like that in this world of us "only 6% can become happy"? Well, this teacher does, and she confronts the children with more of that kind. There is a lot happening like bullying, theft, discrimination and rebellion. But unlike with many other rather artificial appearing series', all of it is interweaved into a quite believable, continuous plot. It gets emotional, but there is also much fun in it. It never takes itself completely serious, although there is much truth in it. This is an important point, why in my opinion this is so good. On the other hand, reading other comments I sometimes get the feeling, that many people miss the irony.

A good script is nice, but here we also see a great execution of it. The camera uses all the tricks to create the right atmosphere. I love the shots, when the teacher is looking down on the children and the children are looking up at the teacher. It is funny and scary at the same time. Furthermore the actors are simply wonderful. Amami Yuki gives us a perfect "demonic" teacher Maya. Beautiful, intelligent, mysterious, strict, cold, evil and more, she is everything. Shida Mirai, very cute, funny and when she makes her scared face, I can't help... it's just great, you have to see her mimic! You won't find any weak actor or actress in it, but convincing performances and really interesting and fascinating characters. Although we have some main characters, every single child in this class has it's own important role in the concept of the plot. (----Spoiler----) And when in the end, every single child is shown at the graduation ceremony and their names are mentioned, without any distinction, (----Spoiler END----) you really feel that this series does not just want to please the audience, but stays absolutely true to it's message.

And like I said before, this series has much to say to it's audience. In my opinion it does not force any message on us, but rather gives us stuff to think about. I always enjoyed thinking about these topics, because I always had the feeling that something was missing regarding my own time in school. I was happy finishing school and felt, that much of it was a waste of time. I could start philosophising about it now, but you will have more than enough stimulus to do so, while watching this one. And here is more than just topics regarding school. You can of course say, it's about life in general.

The music, stunts, set etc. is also of high standard. There are not many weak points to find here. (----Spoiler----) There is only something I sometimes wonder about. When I read statements like "I wished I had a teacher like that" or "Every teacher should be like her". Did these people really give it enough thought? (----Spoiler END----)

Well, build your own opinion! Watch it!!! It's worth it!!!
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10/10
Watch it for the kids!
Carlyn N.22 January 2008
Luckily, a kind user of YouTube uploaded the English subbed version of this series so that people like me can watch them and I have to say that I'm enjoying every single episode!

Each character is well played by splendid actors. You can't help but to fall in love with Kazumi and her "Despite everything, I believe people are good at heart" attitude. Yuki Amami's "Maya" is positively scary and will make you glad that you didn't have a teacher like her when you were in the 6th grade. If you did have a teacher like her, you may not want to watch this show or you'll have to sign up for therapy. What's really amazing about this show are the super-talented kids - they're not background actors and actresses to a few star classmates. Their characters have their own personalities that make a major contribution to the show and the kids do an excellent job of bringing them out.

I haven't finished the series yet, but I'm going through the episodes like crazy. Each one will have you avoiding studying (like me) or working so you can find out what will happen next. "The Queen's Classroom" - great actors, great writing, great show. Watch it and fall in love like I did!
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10/10
Where are these teachers...where are these students nowadays
sachinrpathare4 August 2023
Gone those days ....those principles...dedication...it was used to be a both way traffic...now it's all about which board you are with and being snobbish about the school....parents used to have faith in our teachers to have the same goal n dreams for us ...teachers used to take extra classes...after work time...free of cost.

What a series ...acted superbly by all ...all students and all teachers deserve a stupendous.applause.

The role of MAYA ....can anyone do it better than her ...not a chance.

Not very well versed about Japanese emotional expressions ...but when your script is so strong and the acting is so natural ...do we need more explanations.

Those who recommend this for children have totally lost their plot ...it's for children parents teachers and for all of us so called grown ups.
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