GTO drama revival adds Matsushima Nanako as teacher Winter Tsuki in 2024 series

The long‑awaited revival of the Japanese school drama “GTO” will begin airing on Kantele‑Fuji TV on July 20, 2024. Veteran actor Takanori Sakuragi (反町隆史) returns as the unconventional teacher Eikichi Oniyama, and actress Matsushima Nanako has been confirmed to reprise her role as teacher Winter Tsuki Azusa.

Matsushima’s character, originally introduced in the 1998 series, returns dressed as a cabin‑attendant in the new season, with visual material released by the production team. The official preview teases a “shocking development in the first four minutes” of the opening episode, prompting fan speculation about plot twists.

The casting reunites original staff members, including writer Asuka Yukawa and director Nakashima, and aims to blend nostalgia with a contemporary setting that features a teacher‑feedback system at a private school. Early reactions on social media have highlighted Matsushima’s unchanged appearance and the anticipation of how the revived series will resonate with both original viewers and a new generation.