Takashi Sorimachi’s “GTO” is back after 26 years! Close-up” and friendly photos of Nanako Matsushima on the set where they met.

Takashi Sorimachi (49)’s Eikichi Onizuka returns for the first time in 26 years!

The drama series “GTO” (Kantera/Fuji TV) starring Sorimachi that aired in the summer of 1998 will be revived in the spring of 2012 as “GTO Revival,” a special drama series marking the 65th anniversary of Kantera/Fuji TV.

The drama is a school drama in which Eikichi Onizuka, a high school teacher played by Sorimachi, a former motorcycle gang member, confronts the problems of his students with his unprecedented behavior. The average viewer rating (households) was 28.5% in the Kanto region, and the final episode recorded a high rating of 35.7% (according to Video Research).

It is a legendary drama that propelled Sorimachi to stardom. The theme song he sang, “POISON – I can’t even say what I want to say in this world,” was also a big hit.

The students were played by Shun Oguri (40), Yosuke Kubozuka (44), and Hiroshi Tamaki (43), who had not yet made their breakthrough, and who became popular actors as a result of this drama. Not to forget, Nanako Matsushima (49), who was already at the height of her popularity as an actress in morning dramas at the time, played the heroine.

FRIDAY” closely followed the filming of “GTO” at the time. It covered Sorimachi and Matsushima, who had just met. Looking back on that time…

In between shoots, they would say “That way, that way, hoi! and they were in perfect sync.

When Sorimachi entered the set a little after 3:00 p.m., the crew suddenly seemed to come alive in a different way. Sorimachi’s high-spiritedness is what makes it so. During the rehearsal, Sorimachi discusses each movement and line with the director. Sorimachi’s voice, directing the camera work, echoed through the studio, where previously only the director’s voice could be heard, and it was as if there was another director.

Matsushima, on the other hand, always had a tense expression on her face as she concentrated on her performance.

Despite this, between takes, they would play “Aru hai muite hoi” (look over there) and the atmosphere was very convivial.

The following year, the two began dating. After a year of dating, they married in February 2001. They have two daughters and are currently leading a cozy life together as one of the most successful married couples in the entertainment industry. Sorimachi said of the drama,

I’ve actually been asked several times if I would be interested in doing “GTO”. But I thought it would be meaningful to revive the show at this point in time, so I asked him myself this time.

He revealed the secret story behind the revival. This is a special drama not only for Sorimachi, but also for the couple. We wonder if the couple will ever co-star in the drama.