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Johns Top 10
Japanese
Dramas
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by John

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I really enjoy Japanese dramas. As far as

Japanese entertainment media goes,
dramas are right up there with anime
for me. When I was first getting into
Japanese stuff, I was all about the
anime until one day I realized that there
was a whole side of Japanese TV I was
completely missing out on: J-dramas. I
couldnt believe Id been missing out on
so many great shows.
Over the years, Ive checked out a great
many of J-dramas. Some were bad,
some were just okay, and some were
downright fantastic. Below is a list of
my top ten favorites. If youre into
dramas at all, Im sure youve seen or at
least heard of many of them. For those
of you new to dramas, however, this list
is an excellent place to start (assuming
you have the same taste in shows that I
do).

10. Boys on the

Run

Boys on the Run is about a salaryman

who works for a small toy manufacturer
and has never had a girlfriend in the 27
years of his life. He has no experience
with women and is a hopeless employee
nowhere near getting ahead in life. Hes
in love with one of his colleagues at
work, but has no idea how to approach
her. One day he runs into a salaryman
from a competing toy company who
decides to help him woo the girl.
Over time, Boys on the Run might rank
higher on this list of mine. The reason
for this is that I havent actually
finished watching the series yet, but
what Ive seen so far is really good.
Every episode is a riot. I cant
remember the last time I yelled at the
screen so much during a show, just
because of all the ridiculous things the
main character does and says. Its a bit
raunchy, but Ive really been enjoying
this show so far.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Comedy
Who should watch this show: People
who like rooting for the nerd loser
underdog and dramas with continuously
ridiculous situations.

9. Moteki

Moteki is about a temp worker who has

never had any luck with women. One

day, he suddenly starts getting
invitations to hang out from several
beautiful women, and he finds himself
confused about how to deal with this
new experience of having a moteki (a
period when one is very popular and
attractive to others).
This one was actually recommended to
me by one of my friends who is teaching
in Japan. Its really funny, much in the
same way that Boys on the Run is. The
main character supposedly has no luck
with women and is suddenly thrown
into situations where he doesnt really
know what to do or how to act. Like
Boys on the Run, this show can be a bit
raunchy at times, but its hilarious, and
I highly recommend it.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Comedy
Who should watch this show: People
who like rooting for the loser underdog
in ridiculous love triangle situations.

8. Watashi ga
Renai Dekinai
Riyuu

Wataren highlights the lives of three

women who are all looking for love but
each one has something that is getting
in the way of their romantical
happiness. As the show progresses, they
all grow and learn more about
themselves and what they want out of
life.
I liked this one so much I even wrote a
Tofugu post about it earlier this year,
soon after I finished watching it. This
one came to me after a long stretch of
sub par dramas, so this show was
responsible for reinvigorating my
interest in them.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Romance
Who should watch this show: Those
interested in seeing the love lives of
three different women unfold in a
humorous and entertaining manner.

7. Papa to Musume
no Nanokakan

Papa to Musume no Nanokakan is about

a salaryman and his teenage daughter.
One day, the two ride a train together
and by some mysterious force, they
swap bodies. Unfortunately, they have
no choice but to swap lives, pretending
to be each other at school and work.
This show is great. I really like the
actress that plays the daughter in this
show, and its hilarious to see her acting
like a middle aged salaryman, not to
mention seeing a middle aged
salaryman act like a high school girl.
This show is both hilarious and
touching, as it ultimately brings the two
closer together.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Comdey
Who should watch this show: Those
who like life-swap shows and seeing
middle-aged men act like teenage girls.

6. Buzzer Beat

Buzzer Beat is about a young player

from a professional basketball team.
Due to his relatively smaller size and
his tendency to crack under pressure,
hes unable to really shine as a player.
Meanwhile a strong-spirited music
college graduate aims to become a
professional violinist. One day they
have a chance encounter and their
meeting begins a friendship that
eventually turns into love. However, the
main character is already considering
marriage with his current girlfriend.
What will happen!?
This show was recommended to me by
one of my Japanese friends when I was
studying abroad in Japan. The main
character is played by Yamapi, who has
become one of my favorite drama
actors, and he really shines in this show.
You dont have to enjoy basketball at all
to enjoy this one, its merely the glue
that holds everything together. This
show is funny, romantic, and touching.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Romance, Sports
Who should watch this show: Anyone
who has a passing interest in basketball,
or just really enjoys well done romantic
comedies with love triangles.

5. Pride

Pride is definitely the most serious

drama on this list and it centers around

a playboy hockey player and his newfound love interest. He doesnt like
commitment, and the main girl has a
long distance boyfriend who seems to
have left her with no intention of
coming back. This show tells their story
and all the trials and tribulations they
face.
I was actually very skeptical about this
one when I first heard of it. A serious
romantic drama centering around
hockey? Psh, yeah okay- that sounds
really interesting. But boy was I
surprised. This show really pulls on
your heartstrings and really draws you
in. Its definitely one of the most
emotional shows on this list, and for
that, I highly recommend it.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sports
Who should watch this show: People
who like Queen music. Seriously, thats
all this show plays.

4. Densha Otoko

Ah, the mighty Densha Otoko. The show

is probably the most famous and well
known on the list. This show is a true
love story that was turned into a
bestselling novel, drama, and movie. A
typical office lady gets into trouble with
a drunkard on a train and it saved by the
main character, who also happens to be
the epitome of otaku. This act of
bravery was extremely uncharacteristic
of him, but it starts a friendship with
the woman that soon blooms into
romantic interest. Having no idea how
to handle women, he seeks advice on
message boards and all of Japan helps
him along the way.
This show is awesome. It was one of the
first dramas I really got into and it
remains one of my favorites. Its funny,
heartwarming, and emotional. Its a
roller coaster ride of feelings, but I
loved every minute of it. Also, the
opening sequence is great. It really gets
you pumped for each new episode.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Comdey, Romance
Who should watch this show: Anyone
who likes dramas. Really, you cant go
wrong with this one.

3. Proposal
Daisakusen

Proposal Daisakusen is another Yamapi

drama and coincidentally was
recommended to me by the same girl
who told me about Buzzer Beat
(apparently shes a Yamapi fan, too).
Anyway, the show is about two people
who have been friends since elementary
school. The guy has been in love with
the girl pretty much ever since he can
remember, but shes about to get
married to another man. While he and
other friends attend the wedding
ceremony, a fairy appears and sends him
back in time, giving him a second
chance to win the girl he loves.
The premise of this show is really, really
cool. Each episode a new picture of the
main group of characters is shown on
the wedding picture slideshow, and the
picture represents the time that the
main character gets sent back to.
Depending on how he acts and what he
says differently from the first time
around, the picture changes. Its just
really interesting and you really get into
it and cant help but root for the main
character. Just thinking about it makes
me want to watch it again. This show is
great.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Romance
Who should watch this show: People
who enjoy romantic comedies with a
time traveling twist.

2. My Boss My
Hero

This show is about pudding. Just

kidding its about other stuff too. In
My Boss My Hero, the main dude is a
tough 27 year old high school drop-out
who is the son of a gang boss. The main
character is pretty dumb, so his father
decides to force him to return to high
school in order to get his diploma. If he
doesnt graduate, the position of boss
will be given to his younger brother.
This show is like Billy Madison with a
Yakuza twist. Only this time, no one at
the high school knows his true identity,
so the 27 year old gangster has to learn
to act like a 17 year old kid. The main
character is a great actor and really
plays the part perfectly. Also, the main
girl in the show is the same actress from
Papa to Musume no Nanokakan, so
thats great too. Also, if youre a dude,
or if youre somebody trying to get a
dude to get into drama this is
probably the best one to start with.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: School Drama, Comedy
Who should watch this show: Anyone
who likes to laugh or really likes
pudding.

1. Kekkon Dekinai
Otoko

Kekkon Deninai Otoko is hands down

my favorite drama of all time. Ive
watched it many times over the years,
and it never gets old. The show is about
a 40 year old architect who enjoys living
by himself, doesnt like people, but
somehow is able to design wonderful
houses that people really enjoy.
Eventually he begrudgingly becomes
friends with a handful of people who
wonder if anyone would ever want to
marry him.
I dont even know where to begin with
this show. Everything about it is great.
The main character is played by Abe
Hiroshi, one of my favorite Japanese
actors. He really nails the part and I
cant think of anyone better than him to
play this hermit-like architect. You can
check out an awesome scene from the
show back in the post I wrote about
okonomiyaki. The show is funny,
interesting, and never gets old.

DramaWiki Link
Genre: Comedy
Who should watch this show: People
who like Abe Hiroshi or have any
interest in dramas at all.
And there you have it my top ten
favorite Japanese dramas of all time. I
know theres a ton out there, and even
though Ive seen a bunch, Im sure there
are still more great shows to be
discovered. Also, theres a good chance

that I totally forgot about a show or two

while compiling the above list just
because Ive seen so many.
While entertaining, Japanese dramas
are also great for study, especially if you
really enjoy the show. To get the most
out of them, you can check out Koichis
guide on Studying with Japanese
Dramas. Its a great way to learn.
So tell me, how many of these shows
have you seen? What did you think of
them? Whats your favorite drama? Im
always looking for new shows to watch,
so let me know down in the comments!

And just for fun, heres the latest

Perfume PV. I hope your eyes and ears

enjoy the experience.

245

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Recommend 8
shigeo

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2 years ago

I'm sensing a theme here. Y ou like

dramas about guys who don't
know how to talk to girls.
119

Nick Hattan

Share

2 years ago

Forshame, John. Any J-drama

watcher worth their salt has to
have watched Nodame Cantabile,
or at least added it to the list of
recommended. It's only a little
under Kekkon Dekinai Otoko!
34

34

Share

zoomingjapan > Nick

Hattan 2 years ago

Totally agree! I can't

imagine that there's anyone
who wouldn't like Nodame!
^-^
6

Share

Luke
MacDonald >
zoomingjapan
2 years ago

*raises hand* I don't

like Nodame.
Some stuff works in
animation form but
not in Live action.
This is one of them.
If they had made it
more realistic, then
the treatment of
Nodame may not
have seemed as
much like abuse to
me. I couldn't take
Nodame for too
long.
The drama I was
getting into for a
while was called...
Life is Beautiful, or
something. About a
hairdresser who
needed to get
attention so he
could get promoted
and a bitter
wheelchair bound
woman. I can't
remember if that's
the exact name. Of
course, that MAY be

course, that MAY be

one of the dramas
you thought were
just plain trash, who
knows. My other
favorite was Water
Boys. I don't think it
was subtitled, so I
didn't always know
what was going on,
but it was fun to
watch.
17

Share

Guest

> Luke
MacDonald
2
years
ago

Nodame was
originally a
bestselling
manga. The
anime is an
adaptation of
it, like the
drama. The
drama isn't
based on the
anime.
2
Share
teruru
>
Guest
2
years
ago

Manga to
animation
obviously
translates
better 9/10
times than
manga to
live action
and I'm

and I'm
pretty sure
that's what
Luke's point
was.
2
Share
Shepard

> Luke
MacDonald
2
years
ago

Y eah the
name of the
drama is
called
Beautiful
Life and
sometimes
called Life is
Beautiful.

Share
Guest > Nick Hattan

2 years ago

Agree wholeheartedly!

Share

Fugu Lord > Nick

Hattan 2 years ago

John

lol, yeah I know- I feel that

I should get around to
watching it eventually.

Share

x_stei > John

2 years ago

I agree
wholeheartedly.
Based on this list
John, I think you
would really enjoy
it! =)

Share

Viet

Fugu Lord

2 years ago

No GTO? No Okane ga nai? What

is this list????
33

Share

legendofleo

2 years ago

Thanks, I used to watch J-dramas

a lot and this post has revived my
passion.
I think you need to watch some
different genres though. Here's a
few off the top of my head worth
checking out if you haven't
already.
Trick
JIN
Nodame Cantabille
Galileo
The Quiz Show
Hero
Love Generation
Engine
Orange Days
Iryuu Team Medical Dragon
Kurosagi
Sekai no Chuushin de Ai wo
Sakebu
Tsuki no Koibito
Gaikoukan Kuroda Kousaku
Team Batista no Eiko
Bloody Monday
Dragon Zakura
Shiroi Haru
Kindaichi Shounen Jikenbou
Jikou Keisatsu
17

Share

julien foriel

2 years ago

STAND UP! STAND UP! STAND

UP!
9

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kintaro

2 years ago

How I wish I could express my

feelings right now. I have given
JDrama a chance (John, you have
a great list of common favorites,
this isn't against you or Tofugu
followers at all). A lot of these
shows have a cool premise, but
man does the execution fall short.
Compared to the U.S., it is all
really, pretty dang bad. I mean,
what's up with all the lame budget,
repetitive story lines and over-thetop moral wrap-ups in every
episode? Sure, there are funny
things said or done every onceand-awhile, but look at an average
show from the U.S. and it EASILY
wins over any of the JDrama's
that people love so much. A lot of
it seems just to be love for Japan
pushing U.S. fandom, instead of
actual quality to a show.
It didn't make any sense to me
why Japan couldn't make good TV
show. They are the land of
Kobayashi, Ozu, and Kurosawa
and yet they can't make one
decent tv show that wasn't either
raunchy or uber-cheesey acting or
both. Luckily, I decided to stop
referring to shows Americans
watched and look for the shows
Japanese people actually liked.
Instant hit.
If I could, I would write an entire
post on how great Ryoumaden is.
Like really, everyone should go
watch the first episode right now.
There is a reason it is being
broadcast around the world. Trust
me. I hope Japan can keep

me. I hope Japan can keep

producing shows like this and they
will start making their way into
the U.S. This can hold up next to
many of America's best shows. I
don't want to say too much about
it almost so whoever makes it
through my ranting will be curious
enough to give it a try. I'm just
glad I got sick of the same jdrama's that I see advertised all
over the english internet and tried
something authentic Japanese.
Hope you guys give it a shot.
(sorry for the demeaning rant)
11

Share

Jarrod > kintaro

2 years ago

Well, I didn't know that

having a show being aired
in the USA was what
Japanese drama producers
were aiming for...
6

Share

mit_souko > kintaro

2 years ago

I disagree with you

entirely! I find most
American TV show boring,
poorly acted, etc..
Obviously not every
JDrama is good, but I have
watched so many that I
loved. Then again, they
rarely make it overseas, as
they are not subbed
commercially, but by
volunteer subbers.
3

Share

Shaun Sticka >

kintaro 2 years ago

Y our rant is EXACTLY

Y our rant is EXACTLY

how I feel about J-dramas.
Every time I see a
suggestion thread it's GTO
this and Gokusen that. I
was happy to see at least
some different selections on
here. I've watched the first
3 episodes of Gokusen and
had to stop. I couldn't take
how terrible it was
anymore. I feel like I
should be 13 watching
these shows. They treat the
audience like they are a
juvenile. Bad storylines,
characters who are
supposed to be 16 years old
(as a grown adult I don't
care to watch a show about
teenage problems), women
who all act like they
couldn't function for 5
seconds without someone
taking care of them (the
most annoying J-anything
trope), and highly
dramatized moral wrapups.
I have a friend here in
Japan who's love for the
country all started with
Ryoumaden. It's still his
favorite show ever and he
swears up and down by it.
He also, like you, has a long
list of favorite dramas most
English speakers have
never heard about. The
really good dramas seem to
be the ones least appealing
to Japanophiles.
As for watching these

shows try DramaCrazy.

They are all subbed but you
can ignore that if you have
the Japanese level. If you
don't, bonus.
5

Share

EskimoJo >

Shaun Sticka
2 years ago

Any way you (or

Kintaro if he reads
this) could share
some of the shows
that feature on your
'not the usual' lists?
Pleeease?!
3

Share

Faleea > kintaro

a year ago

I think the storyline of

most Japanese drama is
awesome, but the emotion
and expression of the actor
and the actress is null. they
are expressionless or lack
for both of it. so when we
watch Japanese drama we
can rarely drag into the
movie and full metal
enjoyment. we just -----flat, boring. but i didn't say
it for all Japanese drama, i
say, most of it. compare to
Korean dramas, they are
faraway left behind, for
dramas, Korean did the
great job, emotion,
expression, and wonderful
storyline so after we watch
it we can watch it all over
and all over again without
being boring. but for the
manga and anime...oww

manga and anime...oww

my Good God... Japanese
manga and anime are AW-S-M!!! Japanese
mangaka and animator

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