Series

Challenged ~Graduation~

Creator

Masahiro Kunimoto

Year

2011

Challenged Graduation (チャレンジド〜卒業〜) is a two-part Japanese TV drama special aired on NHK in 2011, serving as a sequel to the 2009 series Challenged. Set one year after the original, it follows Keiichiro Hanawa (Kuranosuke Sasaki), a blind middle school teacher, as he guides his third-year students through their final school events, including a field day and preparations for exams and graduation. The story focuses on the emotional bonds between Hanawa, his students, and colleagues, addressing themes of perseverance, trust, and overcoming challenges. The first episode, "The Passionate Teacher's Challenge!" centers on the class's efforts to succeed at the field day relay, while the second, "Goodbye, Passionate Teacher," deals with Hanawa facing the end of his temporary teaching position and the students’ graduation