Mr. Kinpachi in Class 3B (1979)
A legendary television series and cultural asset, Mr. Kinpachi in Class 3B is famous for putting many social issues on the front burner of the public conscious over its long run, as filtered through the emotionally volatile lives of third year middle school students. The heartfelt relations between a devoted schoolteacher, Kinpachi Sakamoto, and his unique students have won the show high praise for several decades. Whether due to the pressures of exams, family relations, teachers and friends, graduating middle school students navigate a turbulent hormonal sea of “hope” and “frustration”, constantly shaped by the social environment of the times. Standing as a beacon in the storm and emitting messages of hope for each generation is one Japanese teacher, Kinpachi Sakamoto, who has come to be adored and admired by a nation through the adventures of Class 3B.
-
Episode 1 - Two Creepy New students
Release Date: 2001-10-11Kinpachi gets two transfer students at the start of the second term. Although the other students try to make them feel welcome they make no headway. Kinpachi later discovers that his son Kota has collapsed on his way to school. The doctor diagnoses him with a type of leukemia. Kinpachi, who lost his wife to cancer, is devastated.
-
Episode 2 - The Darkness in my Heart Runs Deep
Release Date: 2001-10-18Kinpachi's heart is heavy, with two students who just won't fit in, and worry over his son, who has been hospitalized. Nao is called into the Principal's office and reprimanded for her bad attitude. Meanwhile, Masanori seems to be suffering from emotional problems too.
-
Episode 3 - At the Time of the Cancer Diagnosis...
Release Date: 2001-10-25Nobuta has been repeatedly tardy. Kinpachi thinks he's just been oversleeping, but in reality, he has family problems. Seeing how frustrated his son is at not being allowed to leave the hospital, Kinpachi decides to tell his son the truth about his illness.
-
Episode 4 - Yoki Father and Yoki Teacher
Release Date: 2001-11-01Kosaku becomes more emotionally unstable when he learns the truth about his illness. Losing his hair due to chemotherapy aggravates his emotional state. Kinpachi does his best to encourage his son, at times with strong words, at times with tender actions.
-
Episode 5 - Dance! Soran Bushi
Release Date: 2001-11-08When Kinpachi takes a cap which another teacher has knitted for Kosaku to the hospital, Kosaku shows him one that a young female cancer patient has given him. For the first time in weeks, Kinpachi sees him smile.
-
Episode 6 - Dad, I Hate You
Release Date: 2001-11-15Kosaku uses a computer to find out all he can about his cancer, so he can fight it. Meanwhile, former 3B students gather together in order to put into effect a suggestion made by Kinpachi years ago--to register at a bone marrow bank when they turned 20.
-
Episode 7 - Homosexuality and Heterosexuality
Release Date: 2001-11-22During class, Kinpachi confiscates a note the students have been passing around. He is stunned to find that the students suspect that Naomi is in love with another girl. When he finds out that Naomi once suffered from bullying, he lectures his class on "love."
-
Episode 8 - Abandoned Children
Release Date: 2001-11-29When the number of case of purse-snatching increases around the school, an anti-crime committee is set up, and former 3B students volunteer to do night patrols. Meanwhile, Kosaku is finally moved out of isolation.
-
Episode 9 - Parents Abandoned by their Children
Release Date: 2001-12-06The students are given mock interviews to prepare for high school entrance exams and Kinpachi is amazed by what he hears. Meanwhile, he is concerned about Tadashi, who has been absent from school.
-
Episode 10 - We All Live in Distress
Release Date: 2001-12-13Although Ken enjoys the e-mails he's been getting from Nao, he doesn't realize they are from her, and is embarrassed by her staring. Meanwhile, Kosaku and Masako share stories and their dreams.
-
Episode 11 - Am I a Man or a Woman?
Release Date: 2001-12-20One morning, on his way to school, Tadashi finds Mr. Inui's wife Eiko doubled-over on the road. She is about to have her baby. With the help of people nearby, Tadashi manages to get her to the hospital in time. The kids at school excitedly talk about the baby, but Nao attacks Mitsuhiro for speaking like a girl. Meanwhile, Kosaku is allowed a visit home.
-
Episode 12 - A Testament of Friendship
Release Date: 2002-01-10Tadashi's brother Takeshi shows up out of the blue. When Tadashi begins scolding him, his brother starts beating him up. A kerosene stove gets knocked over, starting a fire. Meanwhile, Kosaku takes a turn for the worse.
-
Episode 13 - Class 3B Risshiki Ceremony
Release Date: 2002-01-17Kosaku is placed in isolation again, in order to receive treatment to raise his white blood cell count. Kinpachi worries about him, but Kosaku urges him to turn his attention toward his students who are preparing for high school entrance exams.
-
Episode 14 - Spring, When Hope Sprouts
Release Date: 2002-01-24To the great joy of her classmates, Naomi begins coming to school again. But Miki refuses to take the entrance exam, believing she is responsible for her father's suicide attempt. Meanwhile, Kosaku undergoes aggressive treatment at the hospital.
-
Episode 15 - The Child Moves in the Belly
Release Date: 2002-01-31The results of the entrance exams cause an uproar at school. In the midst of this, Mr. and Mrs. Inui bring their newborn baby to the classroom. As everyone oohs and ahhs over the baby, Miyuki drops a bombshell.
-
Episode 16 - Episode 16
Release Date: 2002-02-07The private school entrance exams are being held today. Yamakoshi and Suga get into an altercation with students from another school. Meanwhile, Nobuta has his father and Kinpachi worried when he doesn't come home one day.
-
Episode 17 - The Dating Site Trap
Release Date: 2002-02-14Natsumi and Nami post a message on a "dating" website. They immediately receive a response, and agree to meet the boy, who turns out to be a middle-aged man. Natsumi is later called out alone by the man, who then kidnaps her.
-
Episode 18 - Nao and Masanori Part 1
Release Date: 2002-02-21Two of Kinpachi's students happen to read a magazine article about a school teacher named Narusako, who committed murder. They immediately connect him with Masanori, who has the same last name, and begin hounding him for details about his father.
-
Episode 19 - Nao and Masanori Part 2
Release Date: 2002-02-28Nao and Mitsuhiro get into a vicious fight over Masanori and his father. Masanori's anger with the magazine that published the shocking article continues to build. Worried about him, Ken goes to his father, a lawyer, for some help.
-
Episode 20 - Nao and Masanori Part 3
Release Date: 2002-03-07On an Open House day, Kinpachi has his students do a debate on the subject of the magazine's handling of Masanori's story. Kinpachi is pleased to see how much his students have matured. Nao gets help thanks to Kinpachi and Mr. Honda.
-
Episode 21 - Nao Tsurumoto
Release Date: 2002-03-14Kinpachi tries to talk Nao into returning to school. He and Ms. Honda plan an exercise in class where the students explore "sexuality" and "the role of men and women in society." Meanwhile, Nobuta decides to go and live with his mother.
-
Episode 22 - I Will Not Forgive Him
Release Date: 2002-03-21Nao has returned to school, and is slowly being accepted as a boy by everyone in the class, except for Mitsuhiro. Kinpachi tries to find out what Mitsuhiro's problem is. Meanwhile, although Kinpachi is overjoyed by his son's release from the hospital, he has a problem of his own. Principal Senda has ordered Kinpachi's transfer to another school and Kinpachi finds himself unable to discuss it with his fellow teachers.
-
Episode 23 - Goodbye 3B, Goodbye Sakura Junior High School
Release Date: 2002-03-28The school year is drawing to a close, and soon it's time for graduation. To the very end, Kinpachi Sensei has words of wisdom for his students. At the graduation ceremony, Nao gives a passionate speech before students, teachers, and parents, thanking them for their understanding and acceptance.