Manami Higa(比嘉愛未) Chops Off Her Long Hair For The First Time In 16 Years For Her Role In "GTO 2"

It was revealed on May 19th, 2014 that actress Manami Higa(比嘉愛未) (27) is going to star as a teacher for the upcoming Fuji TV's "GTO" drama series set to broadcast in July.

EXILE's AKIRA (32) will reprise the same role he starred in 2012 for the 2nd installment of the drama series. Onizuka Eikichi(鬼塚英吉), the former legendary bike gang member, has been appointed to his alma mater as a teacher to save students that are suffering from pregnancy turmoil and bullying with his enthusiastic approach.

Former heroines for the drama series have performed admirably in the past. Takashi Sorimachi(反町隆史)(40) starred in the first live-action for GTO in 1988 along with Nanako Matsushima(松嶋菜々子) (40), the two ended up marrying each other after they met on the show. Miori Takimoto(瀧本美織) (22) served as the heroine for the AKIRA version in 2012.

The third generation heroine to play a daring teacher that relieves stress by drinking. Similar to what U.S. actress Anne Hathaway did for her role in "les miserables", Higa cut off more than 30cm of her iconic long hair for the first time in 16 years for the role. "I used to watch the original GTO when I was a student so I am happy to be offered the role. I also cut off my hair to take a new step forward as an actress," she said in an enthusiastic manner.

It seems AKIRA is already madly in love with his costar Ms.Higa: "She looks more womanly the more I am with her. I am surprised." The back and forth love story between them in the drama is going to be interesting to watch. In addition, the cast for the students to include Sexy Zone's Fuma Kikuchi(菊池風磨), Kamayu Matsuo(松岡茉優), 三吉彩花(Ayaka Miyoshi ), Ryo Ryusei(龍星涼), Fuka Koshiba(小芝風花), Ryota Katayose(片寄涼太), Horii Arata(堀井新太), AKB48's Kizaki Yuria(木崎ゆりあ), Kota Shinzato(新里宏太), Natsumi Okamoto,(岡本夏美), and many more.

Source: sanspo.com