Gokusen [ごくせん] Certainly recommended [Rating: 9/10] This serie is simply awesome! "Yankumi" does a great job. I like how they made her this very strong person who also has some faults like her naivety in certain matters, but keeps her spirit.
The series has a superb cast. Sawada is very enigmatic, the had-teacher someone you love to hate, the yakuza are funny and the kids in her class have realistic problems that they won't always react to in the way that is expected for them. They are not just misunderstood kids, but do quite bad stuff from time to time.
Also nice additions to the cast are the policeman, the nurse and the other female teacher. It makes it that Yankumi is not just interacting with her class but deals with people her age as well.