ONE OK ROCK’s new song “Puppets Can’t Control You” was featured as the theme song for the Sunday drama series Mikami Sensei, which premiered on January 19 (Sunday) on TBS.
Mikami Sensei tells the story of Mikami Takashi (played by Tori Matsuzaka), a bureaucrat at the Ministry of Education who, after realizing he can’t change the system from the inside, takes a new path. Mikami becomes a teacher at a private high school under a newly implemented government system that sends bureaucrats to schools. He sets out to change the system from within by raising his voice and challenging the status quo. The show highlights Mikami’s fight against a world filled with distorted power and injustice, offering a suspenseful, socially conscious narrative.
The theme song “Puppets Can’t Control You” was created to resonate with the series’ theme of challenging societal injustice. The track reflects the anger and frustration felt by people concerned about the future, capturing an intense and fiery energy through its aggressive, dynamic rock style. In conjunction with the song’s debut on the first episode, comments from ONE OK ROCK’s Taka and Mikami Sensei producer Kazutaka Iida were released. A second-episode spot featuring the theme song is also now available on YouTube.
Taka from ONE OK ROCK:
This song was born from a deep passion shared with the producer, and with the hope that, as catalysts within this world of propaganda, our message resonates alongside the drama. We poured our hearts into it.
I truly hope that watching the show and listening to the song will inspire everyone to take a moment to reflect on what is truly right and what is wrong.
Producer Kazutaka Iida:
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was difficult to share our true feelings and thoughts. In an era where young people’s most passionate time—their school years—seemed to be taken away, I saw the video for “18祭” and heard ONE OK ROCK’s “We are.” That moment sparked the creation of “Mikami Sensei.”
The powerful screams, smiles, and tears of 1,000 18-year-olds performing together deeply moved me. I wanted to convey the raw energy, emotions, and thoughts of young people through this drama. At the same time, I realized that it’s become incredibly difficult for young people to express their sincere feelings, perhaps because we, the adults, have made it so. This sentiment forms the backbone of “Mikami Sensei.”
Now, five years later, I am so excited to share “Mikami Sensei” with the world alongside ONE OK ROCK. Society has changed significantly, and perhaps the distortions have grown even larger. In this world, I hope the teachings of Mikami Sensei resonate with viewers: to think for oneself, to live true to the emotions and reactions that arise within, without being controlled by anyone else, and to hold firm to who you are. I wish for the drama to touch more hearts and inspire a reflection on society.
Mikami Sensei
[Broadcast Time]
Every Sunday, 9:00 PM to 9:54 PM
[Cast]
Takahiro Mikami: Tori Matsuzaka
Fumika Koreeda: Riho Yoshioka, and others
[Staff]
Production and Copyright: TBS
Script: Robo Shimomori
Theme Song: ONE OK ROCK “Puppets Can’t Control You” (Fueled By Ramen / Warner Music Japan)
Producers: Kazutaka Iida, Mao Nakanishi, Minami Nakazawa
Directors: Yohei Miyazaki, Hiroya Shimada, Sakura Komaki
Music: Shiro Sagisu
Script Assistance: Shunichi Hatakeyama, Mari Okada
Educational Supervision: Issei Nishioka
School Education Supervision: Yuichi Kudo
[Official Website] https://www.tbs.co.jp/mikami_sensei_tbs/
[Official X] @mikamisenseitbs
[Official Instagram] @mikamisensei_tbs
[Official TikTok] @mikamisensei_tbs
[TVer Streaming Page] https://tver.jp/series/sr2wexxwqg
#MikamiSensei