Dragon Sakura poster

Dragon Sakura

2005 to 2021 Drama, Comedy 2 seasons

TMDB rating 7.7/10 Ended

A struggling lawyer, Kenji Sakuragi, takes a position at private school Tatsuyama Gakuen to pay off his debts. Kenji decides to try to turn this hopeless school into one of the elite institutions in Japan to help rejuvenate his career. His barometer of success will be to get five of his students admitted to the prestigious Tokyo University the following year. But rather than cramming them with lots of general information, his down-to-earth class concentrates on unknown techniques for passing the entrance examination and how to live a good life in these turbulent times. His refreshing outlook and strategy may just be what is needed to turn around the future prospects of himself and his students and teach the rest of us a thing or two as well!

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Seasons2

  • Sakuragi Kenji is a destitute lawyer and one-time member of a motorcycle gang trying to guide failing high school students with an average score of 36 into Japan's most prestigious educational institution, Tokyo University (Toudai). For no other reason than Sakuragi's personal ambition, he has advertised his intention to produce 5 successful Toudai applicants from the students of a nearly bankrupt failure of school. In addition to revealing essential test-taking techniques for everyone who wants to know how to get into Toudai, "Dragon Zakura" will also teach the essentials of living one's life.

    All episodes available

    TMDB rating 9.0/10

  • A few years ago, a group of struggling students at a low-ranked high school made it into Japan’s top college, Tokyo University, thanks to Kenji Sakuragi, a down-on-his-luck lawyer-turned-teacher. But since he left, the school has been on a downward spiral. Now they’ve wooed him back, and he’s determined to turn things around again – this time with the motto: “Times are tough! So get a move on!” Students are overwhelmed with choices and desperate for something to hold onto. With his profound belief in their ability, Kenji offers a ray of hope.

    All episodes available

    TMDB rating 8.2/10

This show also has specials. Specials never affect your progress, new seasons, or completion.

Cast and details

  • Hiroshi AbeKenji Sakuragi
  • Masami NagasawaNaomi Mizuno
  • Tomohisa YamashitaYusuke Yajima
  • Yui AragakiYoshino Kosaka
  • Teppei KoikeHideki Ogata
  • Jun MihoYuko Mizuno
  • Akiyoshi NakaoIchiro Okuno
  • SaekoMaki Kobayashi
  • Yoko NogiwaYuriko Tatsuno
  • Minori Terada
  • Mitsuru Karahashi
  • Momosuke MizutaniJiro Okuno
Network
TBS
First aired
Jul 8, 2005
Latest episode
Jun 27, 2021

Rise

2018

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Release dates are original schedules and may differ from availability in your country. A release never marks anything as watched. Last checked Nov 3, 2026.