This manga is one of my all-time favorites. If my friend hadn't recommended it, I never would have even tried to read this because the artwork looked so bad. However, as you read on you really get used to it, and I even started to prefer it to some sparkly-eyed shojo heroines. The plot is so funny and the chemistry between yankumi and shin is excellent! Definitely a must read! Plus, anyone who starts it now won't have to wait in agony for new chapters because it's complete

At first, the art is hard to look at, but you won't care because you'll be shaking with laughter. After awhile, the art gets marginally better, and you stop noticing any faults in it because the characters are so developed, unique, and likeable. Oh, and you'll still be shaking with laughter.

For being so long, this series really keeps the pace up without feeling repetitious or as though it's trying to stretch itself out and getting pulled thin. Yankumi, is a great, strong female character. She doesn't just melt down when convenient for the plotline, nor is she completely without flaw. She has developed, understandable weaknesses just as her strength is complex and it's source illuminated.

The only regrettable thing is Shin's lack of facial expression. He's so stoic! Though sometimes this becomes a great (unintended?) comic effect.

I highly, highly recommend Gokusen. Lively plot, spiced with action, a little awkward romance, totally funny.

Yes, i see why people compare it with GTO. The protagonist are both not-ordinary teachers, they're good at martial arts, the students are having complex problems; but in my opinion i like Gokusen better than GTO. The art is not very good but i kinda like it after some chapters... And this is definitely not another GTO, it has some similarities but it's Gokusen !

I love the fact that this manga doesn't focus on romance, and that the heroine so well-grounded and funny. The art work improved over time, which was more than I could ask for, so that was also a plus. It's also freaking hilarious XD. I haven't laughed this hard at a manga in years.

Yamaguchi is a thoughtful, dedicated (though sometimes a bit dense) teacher who wants nothing but the best for her students. Though she tends to act rather silly and is a bit dense, she's actually a very good teacher (i.e. beyond academics).

One of the most notable things about this manga is that, all comedy aside, Yamaguchi learns just as much from her students as she teaches them. The mangaka was pretty clever for doing that.

This is, by far, one of the best series' that I've ever read. I don't care what anyone says.

... Last updated on August 17th, 2010, 2:29pm

What a great enjoyable, HILARIOUS read. It's the kind of manga that just seems to be addicting without trying. Kudos to the mangaka's mad skills.

Can't say who I love the most: the kickass awesome Yankumi, her weird family, weirder people at her school, ADORABLE Shin, or even the creepy pervy-looking dog. xD

I've seen the drama and the manga is a million times better (I think so). Nowhere near as cheesy and slow-paced as the drama. Plus like a lot of people have said, you get to learn a lot of fascinating stuff about yakuzas here.

So yeah, Gokusen's hands-down funny, just so entertaining and refreshingly different from most mangas out there. I tried to read GTO, which is supposed to be similar, but that was nothing next to Gokusen. I re-read it a bunch of times and I never get bored (or can stop laughing). Very few mangas out there can be 15 volumes long and yet keep your interest and ethusiasm.

... Last updated on June 23rd, 2009, 2:22pm

I would say that after reading the manga (rather than after watching the jdorama itself), I was so interested in the life of yakuzas. Anyhow, I think the jdorama's 3rd installment would have been better if they've stick to the original manga plot since the manga's over.

In the manga, the story revolved around Yankumi and Shin. It would have been romantic. Hahah. The jdorama was funny and has conveyed enough advices regarding how students must live their life but nonetheless, it would been a lot better if the jdorama's plot was about Shin and Yankumi's yakuza life.

The story is not like others, it does not only focus on romance, but also endurance and how people grow and become better. How someone's guidance leads someone else's. Yankumi is a great figure of honesty and sometimes naiveness.. nonetheless Shin liking her, and knowing how dense she is adds up to the fighting of yakusa. The j-drama spin-off does not really show interest in the bonds between Yankumi and Shin .. but it does provide with the inside-world of Gokusen.

... Last updated on November 7th, 2008, 1:21am

What a great manga! Don't expect life changing, earth shattering, soul-deep stuff here. Instead, expect to find yourself greatly entertained with endearing characters, honest humor, character-driven plots and little hints of something more between Shin and Yankumi.

If you've seen the drama, the manga is hardly like it. There's a lot more fighting and yakuza-centered plots and, I feel, a more interesting relationship between Shin and Yankumi. (Not to mention, the entire 3-D class doesn't all move around together like a herd...) Yankumi isn't as clumsy or as into making cheesy speeches and crying all the time. Also, I miss Kuma's ridiiiiculous scooter that Shin would hop rides on, haha.

I've only watched up to episode 9 of season 1, but so far Shin and Yankumi don't at all interact the way they do in the manga. In the manga, Shin sleeps on the school roof a lot and Yankumi often bursts in on him asking for advice (yeah, she asks for his ADVICE--haven't seen that in the drama yet!). He isn't as confrontational in the manga (the only time he really got pissed at Yankumi was when she told him to butt out of her yakuza life). He often tries to save her but ironically, he always gets beaten up and she ends up saving him.

Anyway, I'm not at all dissing the drama. I don't think it has to copy the manga to be good and I enjoy it for its unique interpretation of Gokusen. However, I vastly prefer Shin and Yankumi in the manga.

... Last updated on October 5th, 2008, 11:43pm

The drawings and the situations in this manga would make u lol.
This is a very funny imo and in many ppl's opinion as i see here. The drawing is strange and so hilarious sometimes. The story is nothing similar to gto, ppl just compare them cuz yankumi and onizuka are both crazy teachers. I personally love this series and reccomend it to everyone

... Last updated on August 25th, 2008, 12:08pm

apparently wait231(whatever it is) has no sense of humour, because this series is really really funny xD~ i mean...take a look at the general comments and rating =P
even though it might be like GTO, it's (in my oppinion), more refined than GTO, even in the level of delinquincy the main characters are in =3~ definetly recommended for a good laugh. i even got my mom hooked on the drama version =3

... Last updated on July 16th, 2008, 10:31pm