EXILE's Akira reprises role for 2-hour graduation special airing on April 2

The new live-action GTO television remake series will receive a new two-hour special in April. EXILE dance/vocal group member Akira (pictured at right) will reprise his role as Onizuka, a former gang member who becomes an unorthodox teacher. The "GTO Kanketsuhen ~Saraba Onizuka! Sotsugyō Special~" (GTO Final Volume ~Farewell Onizuka! Graduation Special~) will air on April 2. Original manga creator Tohru Fujisawa will be collaborating on the special's composition.

The special will center on the graduation of Onizuka's students, and will focus on the students' worries about their futures, and the intense arguments that occur between those who are deciding to go to a university and those who are deciding to enter the work force after graduation. Exile Tribe will perform the theme song "24karats Tribe of Gold," Kei Haneoka is handling the music, Kazuhisa Imai is directing, and Junpei Yamaoka is handling the script.

Fujisawa's manga has 45 million copies in print, and it previously inspired a 1998 live-action television series with Takashi Sorimachi in the title role. The earlier live-action version garnered an average rating of 28.5% and a series-high rating of 35.7% for the finale. The 11-episode remake live-action series starring Akira aired in July-September last year, and also received a special in October and a New Year's Special on January 2.

Source: Comic Natalie