Ep 6. Kyo-san's Great Act?

The Gokusen is a Japanese television drama series that focuses on a female teacher who tries to reform a group of delinquent students. In season 1 episode 6, Kyo-san's Great Act?, the lead protagonist, Yankumi, finds herself in a tricky situation when her classmate's father pleads with her to help his son. Kyo-san, a classmate of Yankumi's, has been secretly working as a stand-up comedian to pay off his father's debt, but now he has gone missing.

The episode starts with Kyo-san's father visiting the school to meet Yankumi, seeking her help to locate his son who disappeared without any explanation. Although Kyo-san has a reputation for being lazy and disinterested in academic work, his father tells Yankumi how he began working at a comedy club to earn money and was doing well until he disappeared last night.

At first, Yankumi is hesitant to get involved as she is preoccupied with the school's upcoming sports festival, but Kyo-san's father begs her to help him. Yankumi agrees and decides to search for Kyo-san along with some of her students.

The search for Kyo-san takes Yankumi and her students to various places in the city. They search comedy clubs, bars, and underground performance spaces, but there is no sign of Kyo-san. However, they come across other struggling comedians who provide them with valuable information about the comedy scene in the city.

As the day progresses, Yankumi and her students get more involved in the search for Kyo-san. They start to understand the difficult life of a stand-up comedian and how Kyo-san tried to balance his passion for comedy with his need to support his family. They learn about the challenges Kyo-san faced in the comedy world and how he was constantly ridiculed and laughed at.

Despite the obstacles they face, Yankumi and her students persevere and finally find Kyo-san in a rundown comedy club. He is on stage doing his routine, but the club is mostly empty, and the few people in the audience are not amused. Yankumi and her students watch him perform, and although his jokes fall flat, they are deeply moved by his tenacity and determination.

After the performance, Yankumi talks to Kyo-san and learns that his father's debt had gotten larger, and he had taken up comedy to earn quick money. However, he quickly realized that he was not cut out for it, but he had continued to perform to keep his father happy.

Yankumi advises Kyo-san to be true to himself and his passion for comedy. She tells him that he doesn't have to do something to please anyone else and that he should do what he loves. Kyo-san's father is proud of his son's decision and realizes that he was wrong to pressure him into comedy.

The episode ends with the school's sports festival, where Yankumi and her students participate and have a fun-filled day. Kyo-san is also present, and he thanks Yankumi for her advice and support. The episode concludes on a heartwarming note, with a clear message to follow one's passion and to not give up on one's dreams.