GTO Reveals 28 Student Cast Members Selected From Over 400 Applicants
The production's decision to restrict the audition to actual high school-age performers and cast 28 relative newcomers suggests the show is betting on authentic youthful energy rather than established child stars to carry the class dynamic.
Reporting from 2 sources: Eiga Natalie, Cinema Today.
The upcoming live-action drama adaptation of GTO has announced the 28 actors who will play the students of Class 1-B, the homeroom class of protagonist Eikichi Onizuka. The cast was chosen from over 400 applicants through an audition process limited to real high school-age performers aged 15 to 17 as of April 2026. The selected actors include Inagaki Kurena, who cut 33 cm of her hair for the role of Yu Ito; Oikawa Motori as Wataru Tanaka; and Oshima Miyu, Kajiwara Kana, Kawaguchi Wakura, Kitaru Riu, Shibasaki Fuuga, Nanba Aoto of LIL LEAGUE, Nishiura Shinnosuke of The Right Light, Horiguchi Maho, and Morimoto Rikuto. Additional cast members include Matsuo Sonomo, Oishi Ayo, Takagi Ryunosuke, Kaneko Haruka, Ito Shunta, Kakuda Kazuki, Nagai Kohaku, Nishikawa Mika, Yamamoto Yukina, Uemura Karina, Tomii Rei, Arai Noa, Kawabe Keino, Kanazawa Sota, Takahashi Yudai, Saito Toranosuke, and Kamie Joe. The drama premieres on July 20, 2026, on Kantele and Fuji TV, with Takashi Sorimachi returning as Onizuka. Director Nakajima Satoru said the selection focused on each actor's individuality rather than pure acting skill.
The 28 student roles for the new GTO drama were announced on May 31, 2026, completing the main cast for the series that brings back Takashi Sorimachi as Eikichi Onizuka after 28 years. The audition process, which opened in late October 2025, was limited to performers who would be between 15 and 17 years old on April 1, 2026, and excluded current middle school students. Over 400 applicants went through up to four rounds of selection over roughly three months.
Director Nakajima Satoru stated that the casting team prioritized each actor's individuality and personal flavor over technical acting ability, aiming to let performers bring their own strengths and weaknesses to the roles. He expressed hope that the series would serve as a stepping stone for the young cast. The drama is set at Private Seishin Gakuen, a school where students use tablets and can anonymously rate teachers, and will air weekly on Mondays at 10 p.m. starting July 20. Screenwriter Kazuhiko Yukawa, who wrote the 1998 series, returns for this installment.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Eiga Natalie 「GTO」反町隆史演じる鬼塚が担任、稲垣来泉・及川桃利ら1年B組の生徒役28人発表
- Cinema Today 「GTO」生徒役キャスト28名発表！リアル高校生世代限定のオーディションで選出