6 /10 1 Votes
Published by Kodansha Magazine Weekly Morning Volumes 21 Number of seasons 1 Written by Norifusa Mita | 3/5 Goodreads Demographic Seinen Original run 2003 – 2007 First episode date 8 July 2005 Number of episodes 11 Genre Drama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Awards Kodansha Manga Award - General category Similar Nobuta wo Produce, Master of Study, Code Blue, Operation Love, Kurosagi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dragon Zakura (Japanese: ドラゴン桜, Hepburn: Doragon Zakura) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Norifusa Mita. Serialized in Weekly Morning from 2003 to 2007, it was released into 21 tankōbon by Kodansha between October 22, 2003, and August 23, 2007. It was adapted into live action television series of the same name broadcast on TBS in 2005.
Contents
A sequel titled Angel Bank: Dragon Zakura Gaiden (エンゼルバンク-ドラゴン桜外伝-, Enzerubanku -Doragon Zakura Gaiden-) was published in the same magazine between 2007 and 2010. It was compiled into 14 tankōbon released by Kodansha between January 23, 2008, and August 23, 2010.
Plot
Kenji Sakuragi is a poor lawyer and ex-motorcycle gang member looking for an opportunity to boost his career. His chance finally comes with the nearly bankrupt and notorious Ryuuzan High School, universally referred to as "baka gakkou" (stupid school). There, he sets up a special class that aims to prepare five students to pass the entrance exam of University of Tokyo, which is the finest university in Japan.
Reception
The manga has sold over 6 million copies, and won the 2005 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga. It also won an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival, with the jury saying, "The theme is not new, the composition is somewhat orthodox and it is true that there was criticism of the drawing skill. However, the story is told with such great conviction and pathos that these weaknesses are easily overlooked. It is a very entertaining manga, which is probably the most important thing."
Adaptations
The manga has been adapted into a Japanese television drama series of the same name and also into a 2010 South Korean television drama series titled Master of Study. It will also be adapted into a Chinese internet television drama series.