Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu (The Drifting Classroom)

Add to My List

Add to Favorites

Alternative Titles

Japanese: 漂流教室

More titles

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 11

Chapters: 44

Status: Finished

Published: 1972 to 1974

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Shounen Sunday

Authors: Umezu, Kazuo (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.40¹ (scored by 6,606 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #3816²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #778

Members: 23,004

Favorites: 344

Resources

Wikipedia

7.40

Ranked #3816Popularity #778Members 23,004

MangaShounen SundayUmezu, Kazuo (Story & Art)

Add to My List

Volumes: /11

Chapters: /44

Edit
Synopsis

Sixth grader Shou Takamatsu is a troublemaker who refuses to grow up. However, one fateful day, his world is turned upside down, forcing him to quickly mature—or die. When Shou arrives at school that morning, an earthquake of mysterious origin strikes, and the campus is teleported to an empty wasteland, far removed from society. Not only do Shou and his peers face an immediate crisis of food shortage, they must also contend with other problems, including new and dangerous external threats, and rising conflict among the student body. With the adults having a hard time adjusting, Shou finds the immense responsibility to quickly adapt to his new dystopian reality a heavy burden on his small shoulders.

Written by the horror specialist Kazuo Umezu, Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu is regarded as a classic in its genre—a unique blend of the riveting mystery behind the entrapment of Shou and his classmates on the barren, hostile world, and their struggle for survival.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu won the 20th Shogakukan Manga Award in 1975. It received a live-action film adaptation on July 11, 1987, as well as a loosely adapted television drama called Long Love Letter on January 9, 2002.

The series was published in English as The Drifting Classroom by VIZ Media under the VIZ Signature imprint from August 15, 2006 to April 15, 2008, and as omnibus volumes from October 15, 2019 to June 16, 2020. It was also published in Spanish by Ponent Mon from October 2008 to August 2010.

More characters
Characters

Takamatsu, Shou

Main

Sekiya, Kyuusaku

Main

Shibata

Main

Nishi, Ayumi

Main

Kawada, Sakiko

Main

Onna Banchou

Supporting

Reviews

Aug 10, 2013

tlne

Recommended

I like horror manga; I generally always do. So it should come as no surprise that I avidly read works by Itou Junji and Kazuo Umezu (the latter of which I will be focusing on), two well-known masters at the horror genre. Works such as Orochi (by Kazuo Umezu) may have an “out-there” kind of premise but the way it seems so natural and tangibly believable is what really scares us. I mean, if the characters act in a similar way we would in a situation (and things go horribly wrong) then we can’t help but feel vulnerable to that fact. The reality of the ... horror genre is this: generally, the more realistic it can be, the scarier. The Drifting Classroom (aka. Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu) is often Well does this necessarily make it a “masterpiece”? That certainly depends.

What is The Drifting Classroom? Other than being called the manga version of Lord Of The Flies (which I can wholeheartedly agree with) it’s an older manga created in 1972, was awarded the 20th General Shogakukan Award, and was serialized for two years before coming to a fairly unsatisfying end. It chronicles the life and adventures of an entire school that has been transported into the far, far future; a future where there is no vegetation, nor water...just sand. One student in particular, Sho Takamatsu, is who the manga focuses on, and the entire story is presented through his point of view. He is a sixth grade student and a fairly unreliable narrator (seeing as he rapidly changes personas; mature leader to a crying boy), and thus, this means this manga is presented through the eyes of a flawed child. Other characters in this manga include Saki, the “wife” of Sho (confusing, I understand, but I don’t know how to phrase this better; you will see what I mean later on in the manga) who is very conservative in her role, but is also a very strong girl, and Yuu, who is Sho’s adoptive “child” who has almost nothing to do with the main plot other than inconvenience Sho. There are several other minor characters (such as Otomo and Nishi), and there are many that opposes “Ralph’s” (Lord Of The Flies, again) or Sho’s authority, but events like that come and go for plot convince with different characters at different times. Overall, characterization was flimsy, for the most part (like most horror mangas), but I was surprisingly impressed with Saki’s character as a 6th grade mother figure in rough times. Setting, on the other hand, has an original premise with endless possibilities. What you don’t expect to happen in a barren world of sand DOES happen without much consequence because of the lack of things other than the school.

It’s said that The Drifting Classroom is a collection of things that scared Kazuo Umezu as a child. Whether or not this is actually true, I can agree with the statement that, yes, (because it is a shounen) it is filled with things that make boys scared. Giant centipedes, bleak darkness, aliens and mummies. If I was a kid I know I’d be scared shitless. But I’m not a kid, which then brings me to my next point: the story doesn't necessarily work well as a horror. Bottom line: it’s not realistic. Rather, it’s quite absurd and has zero logic concerning the nature of the setting and such. I’m not even sure to classify this as a “horror” even though there is blood and gore. It’s simply not that scary (and I’m really easy to scare!). I think a better classification of this manga should be adventure, thriller, and gore maybe because, although the horror genre has those within them generally, this manga does not instill terror or fear in the reader.

But that certainly doesn't mean it’s no good. In fact, I had so much fun reading this manga. Every so often when something different happened I turned my laptop screen around and showed my dad (who thought it was rather amusing I was reading something like this) the giant centipede or whatever new problem that arose. It takes a bit to get into, but sooner than you can even realize you’ll be on the last volume in no time. Yes it’s absurd, yes there is no logic in it, but it’s very creative and very unexpected. I mean, someone has to have a really special kind of thinking to make all of these plot twists interesting (keep in mind there’s only an elementary school and an unlimited amount of sand!). This is the 1970’s: it’s where all tropes and cliches are so raw and original because they haven’t been done before. Just turn off your brain for a bit because lots of things don’t make sense, but it’s OK because it’s fun either way.

Despite whatever criticisms I had with the unreasonable nature, it is good. Because it is told through the eyes of a child, it has the right to be irrational and a bit over the top. The elements in this story is the fears of child, and because of this, Sho and the rest of the students are able to survive and cope with this situation because of their imagination. But the manga’s final fault lies in the initial premise: how did the school get transported into the future, and why? How far into the future are they? Well the subways still work so that could give us a rough estimate I suppose. But what happened to make the Earth so sandy without vegetation? And why are there no humans in the future; what disaster happened to make it that way? None of these questions will be answered in the manga (and to top it all off you’ll get the most unsatisfying conclusion) so if you’re solely interested in the answers to those questions then I don’t think you should even start. Would I recommend it? Sure, I guess, if you’re looking for something interesting that I just described in the last three paragraphs. But otherwise, I’d tuck the title in the back of your head for some other night because this definitely shouldn't be at the top of your ‘plan to read’ list. It’s good, yes, but that’s just it. There are plenty of other great titles out there for you to enjoy. The Drifting Classroom gets a 7/10 from me.

(Oh yeah. And the art screams 70’s. That is all.)

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Open

Gift

Jul 7, 2023

foxhunt99

Recommended

Drifting Classroom is an quite amazing science fiction manga. It explores human nature during apocalyptical situations. Like many of the similar stories (The Walking Dead, etc.), the biggest enemies are humans rather than monsters. The science fiction aspect is not perfect, the explanation of a dynamite causing a space time disruption is quite weak. The art is from the 1970s, a little bit different from what we see today but still quite good.

What the manga does best is the feeling of desperation. The atrocities committed by some of the characters are very believable based on the situation. Another aspect I really liked ...

Open

Gift

Jul 23, 2016

bIGgUMBLE

Mixed Feelings

The Drifting Classroom is a curious horror manga, a story that sets Lord of the Flies in a desert surrounded by nightmares. Children are transported to a wasteland along with their school and the surrounding grounds. Chaos ensues as they negotiate the dread of limited food and water, as sixth grader Sho Takamatsu tries to prevent his fellow students from becoming ravenous animals. First published in 1972, The Drifting Classroom still manages to create an eldritch atmosphere thanks to Kazuo Umezu’s classic manga artwork.

After the first volume gruesome scenes occur nearly every other page, saying far more than poorly translated dialogue. At times it’s ... disturbing, but it’s not disturbing for its own sake. What’s depicted is realistic when faced with murder and absurd horrors, a brutal reality indifferent to the well-being of stranded children.

Two themes run through the work. The first is hope, which becomes a bit kitschy and force-fed but in such a situation what else could a survivor hold on to? Afterall hope was the compass that guided Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage.

Death of innocence is the more interesting theme. Children who can’t rationalize are the first to succumb, regressing to infants or becoming barbarians—which may be the only true path. While the protagonist manages to hold on to civilization, manages to empathize even when his own survival is jeopardized.

Like Lovecraft, Umezu piles one question on top of another and never gives the reader an answer. I was left as confused, unsure, and excited as the unfortunate children. Some interesting plot points are raised, as if an epiphany is about to reveal itself that will resolve every mounting question; only to be pushed aside for the next mishap. It’s somewhat disappointing but works to reinforce the sense of hopelessness that runs through The Drifting Classroom’s veins. It’s clear the manga is not perfect.

Breakneck pacing is The Drifting Classroom’s biggest disappointment. Once one impossible conflict is conquered the next one immediately begins; there’s no time for characters to develop or breathe after an arc. It gives the impression that events have happened in a matter of days, contrary to plot points that beg for more time to be sensical.

As a consequence characters fit snugly into their archetypes and never push against the boundaries of their mold. Takamatsu is a fearless leader throughout, always a symbol of hope. Other characters are introduced and remain one-dimensional–paper-cuts. But The Drifting Classroom is not a story about characters. The atmosphere is the protagonist, the stage that treats the humans which tread upon it as pawns in its game.

What begins as a tale of survival pushing against insanity becomes a story driven by curiosity. By the final volume of The Drifting Classroom I wasn’t sure if I was reading because it was entertaining or I needed to know the conclusion. “How will this end?” But I realized I read for the atmosphere, the sense that apocalypse could repeat on the following page.

The Drifting Classroom is well worth reading if you’re a fan of horror manga. While it doesn't have the tight narrative of The Enigma of Amigara Fault or surreal continuity of Uzumaki, it entertains while raising the question, “could you survive The Drifting Classroom’s absurd universe?”

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Great manga you might not know

by Igor_OwO

35 Entries · 13 Restacks

Manga with English Hardcover Editions

by GoodbyeNosta1gia

46 Entries · 1 Restacks

Best of Weekly Shounen Sunday

by ren999999

50 Entries · 3 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

View All

More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for June

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for June Week 1: June 2 - 8 Anime Releases Aria the Origination (incl. Aria the OVA: Arietta and Aria the Avve...read more

Jun 2, 2020 8:32 AM by ImperfectBlue | Discuss (5 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for February

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for February Week 1: February 4 - 10 Anime Releases A.D. Police (TV) Complete Collection Blu-ray Bai She: Yuan...read more

Feb 3, 2020 1:24 PM by Sakana-san | Discuss (2 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu Chapter 34 Discussion KoniginElle - Jul 30, 2020	2 replies	by iamupinacloud »» Mar 15, 3:36 PM
Poll: Drifting Classroom Chapter 43 Discussion removed-user - Oct 19, 2010	17 replies	by QuasarAfterLife »» Nov 21, 2023 1:07 PM
are there any similar manga to this? sunsetocean - Sep 19, 2015	5 replies	by H_Castaigne »» Oct 2, 2023 11:57 AM
Poll: Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu Chapter 18 Discussion KoniginElle - Jul 17, 2020	2 replies	by iamupinacloud »» Apr 18, 2023 6:43 PM
Poll: Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu Chapter 3 Discussion KoniginElle - Jul 9, 2020	2 replies	by gannoncannon55 »» Apr 16, 2023 9:10 PM

Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu
The Drifting Classroom
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Hyouryuu KyoushitsuThe Drifting Classroom Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More charactersCharacters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu
The Drifting Classroom
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion