GTO revival drama sees falling TV ratings but launches pop‑up store in Japan

The 2026 revival of the Japanese drama GTO starring Takashi Sorimachi aired its third episode on July 3, featuring a “confession operation” storyline and the introduction of a new GTO POPUP STORE scheduled to open on August 7 in Nagoya, Tokyo and Sendai with around 70 limited‑edition items.

Ratings for the series dropped sharply after a strong debut: the first episode recorded a 6.4% household rating (3.8% individual) in the Kanto region, while the second episode fell to 4.8%/2.9%. Despite the decline in live viewership, the episode’s on‑demand streaming on TVer surpassed 3.7 million views, the highest ever for the time slot. Analysts attribute the initial boost to nostalgia and promotional hype, and the subsequent dip to a milder portrayal of the lead character compared with the 1998 original.

The pop‑up store will showcase official merchandise, including a bear‑shaped keychain modeled after the teacher’s helmet and collaborative T‑shirts, allowing fans to experience the series’ world‑building in person.