Kamen Teacher (2013)

"So, let's begin the extracurricular lesson."

Written by Junpei Yamaoka Kamen Teacher is a 2013 Japanese drama based on the Kamen Teacher manga series written by Tooru Fujisawa. The year is 20XX and teachers are no longer allowed to use corporal punishment. For this reason schools have fallen into disarray and delinquency is on the rise. Students neither fear nor respect authority and for all intents and purposes the inmates are running the asylum. In response to this growing wave of youth degeneracy, the Japanese government has decided to employ an education reform program to correct the behavior of problem students and get schools back on track. The government dispatches superhumans called Kamen Teachers throughout Japan to crush rebellious youth and discipline them by any means necessary. After an accident which involved the death of a student, Kamen Teacher Gouta Araki tries to turn his back on the program and begins life as a normal teacher - hoping to instruct students through compassion rather than force. He comes to Kaku High School - one of the worst schools in the region to try and make a difference, but when a brutal gang called M4 stands in his way he'll find that he can't abandon the path of violence even if he wants to.

Just an ordinary lunch break.

Played by Taisuke Fujigaya of the band Kis-My-Ft2, Gouta Araki is a character whose effort to break free from his past is constantly undermined by his present. As a teacher at Kaku High School he is the victim of abuse from his own students and while he could easily beat them to a pulp - which is best practices for the Kamen Teacher program, he tries to find an alternative to violence. Araki believes that violence only brings violence and most problems would be best solved through compassion and understanding. This ideology is a central conflict in and of itself because not only do Araki's beliefs contradict what he has been taught, but his environment necessitates the need for violence. Even so, he tries to look for alternatives to "treat" his students because he believes that it's not too late for the students of Kaku High School. Fujigaya does a great job balancing the contrasts of pain and happiness, regret and hope that are major elements of Araki's character. There's also a childlike side to him as he's greatly influenced by Jinpatsu-sensei who is essentially a Japanese Mr. Rogers. Araki's beliefs inspire fellow teacher and "possible" love interest Miki Ichimura. Played by Aya Omasa, Ichimura-sensei is Araki's experienced co-worker who knows her way around Kaku High School. Contrary to Araki, there is a professional aloofness to Ichimura's personality which has been affected by the school.

M4

Kaku High School's most dangerous gang is M4. Led by Kinzo Takehara, M4 keeps the school under their control through intimidation and fear. Let it be said that despite their outward appearance there is a method to their madness and several have really dark backstories that explains why they're so screwed up. Many of them have been abandoned by society and some have been scarred forever because of this and other traumas. There's duality here as they're all monsters in their own right, but at the same-time they're still kids. M4 constantly tests Araki's commitment to change and whether or not he can truly solve conflicts through compassion rather than force. Araki deals with each of them in different ways, sometimes changing their lives for the better and proving that some people don't need force, they need help. I found myself detesting these characters at first, but was compelled by their stories and I really appreciated them. This is true more so of Mad Man than the others who was particularly aggressive, but became more humane. Unfortunately, Kamen Teacher doesn't always help these kids in time.

Kamen Teacher Black

The Department of Education wants results and they want them fast. When Kamen Teacher's "order through compassion" approach proves to be too time-consuming, they send out Kamen Teacher Black. Kamen Teacher Black shows no hesitation in using force to control the students of Kaku High School and there's no method too violent. Even if he has to fight his fellow Kamen Teacher, he'll do what it takes to get the results their employers demand. In many ways Kamen Teacher Black isn't just Araki's rival, he's also a reminder of his violent past. When the two meet it's not just a battle between men, but a war of ideologies with regards to how society should be run.

"If you use your heart, a heart will come back to you." - Gouta Araki

The series is entertaining, but not perfect. The show gets fairly cheesy toward the end and the conclusion to the final battle was so cliche I half expected Kamen Teacher to throw a Spirit Bomb. The fight scenes are very well done, but there aren't many fights where Kamen Teacher is fighting an opponent on his level so most battles are a curbstomp. They're very cool to see and quite stylish, but lack tension until you get further into the series. Personally I felt there was a large thematic issue in the very existence of the Kamen Teachers in that a lot of the problems with the gangs and delinquents in this series could be solved with a phone call to the police. Unless Kaku High School is a private school which limits what the police are allowed to do, it wouldn't be remiss of the teachers to just call the cops and let them handle things. I liked the ending, but it did leave at least two major issues unresolved.

Overall I had a lot of fun watching Kamen Teacher. It pays homage to my all-time favorite television series Kamen Rider, but it also has its own identity. The bands (indeed the cast) from Bad Boys J did the music for the show which was also a plus. Interestingly enough the show makes me want to go back and read the manga which I found to be quite boring at first. The show has its flaws, but you should give it a shot even if it may not be something you're normally into.