#005 Yoiko no Mikata

よい子の味方

Episode 01 ... January 18, 2003
For the Smiles of Children!! A New Male Nursery School Teacher is Born! 13.4%
Episode 02... January 25, 2003
A Single Mother's Thoughts... 10.2%
Episode 03 ... February 1, 2003
I Hate Teachers!! 8.9%
Episode 04 ... February 8, 2003
A New Nursery School Teacher vs. a Career Mother 9.8%
Episode 05 ... February 15, 2003
The Strongest Male Rival Appears! The Strongest Male Rival Appears! 10.1%
Episode 06 ... February 22, 2003
A Sudden Farewell... Don't Cry, Taiyo! 7.5%
Episode 07 ... March 1, 2003
Father and Daughter...Tearful Mud Play 11.1%
Episode 08 ... March 8, 2003
Even a Nursery School Teacher is a Mother!! 10.7%
Episode 09 ... March 15, 2003
Don't Quit, Mr. Taiyo... A Tearful Graduation Ceremony for a New Nursery School Teacher!! A Moving Final Chapter in a Story of Love and Courage for All Those Who Have a Child's Heart 12.0%

Suzuki Taiyo, aspires to become a nursery school teacher after losing his parents at a young age. As a newcomer, he makes repeated small mistakes and uses unique male teaching methods that initially earn him the ire of his senior female nursery school teachers, but he gradually gains their understanding. The story follows his growth with the help of his colleagues and the families of the nursery school users.

Title: よい子の味方 - Yoiko no Mikata
Also known as: Pre-School Guy / Ally of Good Children
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Drama
Episodes: 9
Viewership rating: 10.41
Broadcast network: NTV
Broadcast period: 2003-Jan-18 to 2003-Mar-15
Air time: Saturday 21:00
Theme song: Tomadoi Nagara by Arashi
Insert song: Violet Flow by Ruppina

Himawari Nursery School
Suzuki Taiyo
Played by Sho Sakurai (Arashi) (childhood: Takanari Saito)
The protagonist. He lost his parents in an accident at the age of three. His grandfather, the teacher, taught him to smile again, and at the age of five, he set his sights on becoming a nursery teacher. He began working at Himawari Nursery School as a substitute in January. The apron he wears to work is embroidered with a smiling sun (the sun, which has the same name as him- Taiyo). He is only supposed to be employed until the graduation ceremony.

Mita Shizuka
Played by Yuki Matsushita
Head nursery teacher. She still believes that only women can be nursery teachers, and she is not happy that Yoshikawa has hired a male nursery teacher, so she is harsh on the protagonist. However, she herself has been struggling with how to interact with her adolescent son. Since Taiyo started working at the nursery school, he has brought about many changes in her son Kazuhiko, as well as the other children and parents, so she has been secretly looking for a nursery school for him to re-employ.

Sakai Minako (played by Fukiishi Kazue)
The homeroom teacher of the Rose Class. She also supervises Taiyo.
Her mother has been begging her to marry. She wonders if she is not cut out to be a nursery teacher.

Yoshikawa Kiyoko (played by Yoshida Hideko)
The principal. Wanting to breathe new life into Himawari Nursery School, she hires Taiyo as a nursery teacher, overriding the objections of head teacher Shizuka.

Yokoyama Sayuri (played by Hamada Mari)
The leader of the five.

Rie Tanaka (played by Naomi Matsushima (Othello))
Apparently from the Kansai region, she speaks in the Kansai dialect.

Erika Arai (played by Yuka Itaya)
Tall and wears glasses.

Kaoru Kojima (played by Shin Yazawa)
Rumi Omoto (played by Otoha)
Both are young and hoping to marry a wealthy parent.

Special Guests
Aiba, Ohno, MatsuJun with Gokusen cast members