I’ve fallen into a J-drama rabbit hole and have found some gems in the process. The drama I’m currently watching is Kahogo no Kahoko and I have to say Mitsuki Takahata is an amazing actor. In fact, I love the whole cast and I just love the story.
The one I’d previously watched is ‘Nigeru wa haji’. I’d read the manga a while back and didn’t know there was a live adaptation. I wasn’t disappointed. Then I googled Gen Hoshino and found out he’s an incredibly talented person.
Beanies, I’m ready to attempt to take on everything J-Ent has to offer. Please, recommend away!

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    Seigi no Mikata. For people who love characters like Veronica Park, the older sister is such a gem. It’s an older drama but still great imo.

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    Bokura wa Kiseki de Dekite Iru (Miracle): my favorite
    Ima kara Anata wo Kyouhaku Shimasu (May I Blackmail you?)
    Okusama wa, Tori Atsukai Chui (Caution: Hazardous Wife): Fun, but that ending though…. still waiting for season 2
    Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata (Ending Planner): slow build, but worth it I think
    Subete ga F ni Naru
    My Long Awaited Love Story

    I struggle with most Jdrama love stories because the women are so compliant and without any agency, to the point that some lately seem to be blueprints for how to emotionally isolate and abuse a woman (or girl. My gosh, so many are still girls)

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      Thank you for the recommendations. I get what you mean when you say their female characters are usually compliant. I’ve watched a couple of J-dramas before and that’s why I always dropped them.

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    Boku, Unmei no Hito desu is a cute, goofy little drama that I really like. I can’t really explain it properly, but there are shenanigans and gives off the same vibe as Negeru wa haji, though nothing will ever out-cute that drama.

    I also liked A Clinic on the Sea, which was also goofy and low-key but had a great ensemble.

    Liar Game is simply fantastic, S. 2 gets a little more convoluted but still great. And the K remake is pretty good too, though it does change the story a bit, but keeps the spirit in tact.

    A Girl and Three Sweethearts is cute and a favorite of mine.

    Nodame Cantabile is one of my favorite dramas of all time, but it’s one of those that you really need to be OK with the weird style that some J-Dramas have. But in the end it’s full of heart and great characters and amazing music. I’m due for a rewatch, now that I think of it.

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      I’ve seen Boku, Unmei no Hito desu. I liked it! I’ve also watched the K-version or Liar Game and I loved it. I personally feel the J-drama version will have that darker or different nuance that K-dramas don’t have so I’ll check it out.
      Thank you for the recommendations. 💜

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    Nigeru wa haji is outstanding!
    I’m personally a fan of Code Blue, too.
    I’m currently watching I Don’t Love You Yet, the jdrama adaptation of In Time Wit You 🙂

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      I’m usually not a fan of medical dramas (because I live in the medical world and find myself cringing a lot despite myself) so I probably won’t be checking Code Blue out.
      Where are you watching ‘I Don’t Love You Yet’? I can’t seem to find it🤔
      Thank you for the recommendations 🥰

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        The Japanese title is “Boku wa Mada Kimi o Aisanai Koto ga Dekiru”. It’s a really nice drama. Please check it out if you have time.

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    I second @snarkyjellyfish’s recommendation for the 10-episode Boku, Unmei no Hito desu (2017). Masaki Makoto and Kogetsa Haruko—both 28—are linked by fate yet never make a lasting connection. Their love story isn’t the only issue; the fate of the world is at stake as well. God appears in the form of a young man to get Makoto and Haruko on the right path.

    Hello Harinezumi (2017) | 10 episodes
    This quirky series follows the cases of the Akatsuka Detective Agency, whose motto is “to be compassionate and meddlesome.” In the course of their work, they encounter doppelgängers, evil spirits, estranged fathers and ancient treasure. They even find love with a new colleague. Cast led by Eita, a charming actor more handsome than his photograph. (Seriously, he looks like a chicken in his MyDramaList photo but he’s adorable with his messy, thick shoulder-length hair.)

    Miss Sherlock (2018) | 8 episodes
    This Hulu-HBO Asia co-production refreshingly reimagines both Sherlock and Watson as women in Tokyo. It’s never explained why Sherlock is called “Miss Sherlock” but Tachibana Wato—a doctor back from Syria—is called … Wato-san. Get it. Get it?! One main difference with Miss Sherlock’s characterization is that she’s super close with her exasperated brother Kento Futaba (Mycroft). Sherlock hella chic and <a href=”https://www.tumblr.com/search/miss%20sherlock
    “tumblr is pretty much a shrine to the undercurrents of romantic attraction between the two women.

    Nagareboshi (2010) | 10 episodes
    A desperate need to find a living liver-donor for his younger sister unites an aquarium worker with a sweet sex worker in a (fake) contract marriage. (Note—The show takes pains to show she’s not a prostitute. She dresses in school uniforms and talks to her clients while massaging them.) The guy lives with his sweet mom, who quickly grows to adore her fake daughter-in-law. The transplant doctor is low-key hot too. The only bad thing about this series is the girl’s despicable brother. He’s not in most of the show but his gambling problems are what spur her to earn as much money as possible.

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    If you’re in the mood for something shorter, I recommend this drama special and two films …

    Watashi ni Unmei no Koi Nante Arienaitte Omotteta (My Long Awaited Love Story, available on Viki) recently came up in the “What We’re Watching” threads. This Cyrano de Bergerac scenario is fluffy a drama special. Riko is a character designer recently contracted by a mobile game company. Soichiro, the company president, asks her to help to court his longtime office-crush, using her skills creating romantic scenarios. Drama fans will love it when Riko passionately defends dramas as culturally significant templates—not just cheesy clichés. Watching her reluctantly fall in love is heartbreakingly sweet. You will likely hate Soichiro’s haircut but just ignore it and enjoy the good feelings. Also, the ML is Takahashi Issei, the lead in @egad’s recommendation Bokura wa Kiseki de Dekite Iru.

    Mix (2017) is a ping pong themed film, starring Eita (my handsome chicken boy!) and Aragaki Yui. Tamako is a former ping pong prodigy who left the sport behind after her mother died. Heartbroken after her ping pong-playing boyfriend cheats on her, she returns home and finds new purpose, friendship and love as she rediscovers her passion for the game.

    Another favorite is a period film called A Tale of Samurai Cooking — A True Love Story (2013). Oharu, a beautiful, divorced, talented young woman is headhunted to teach a chef’s son Yasunobu how to cook so that he can carry on the family’s (kitchen) samurai legacy. Her new in-laws adore and respect her while her husband would rather be a warrior than take his dead brother’s place in the family business. I love, love, love this film because: (1) food prep scenes are my jam; (2) Oharu is hella skilled and steadfast; (3) the love story is organic and low-key. Oharu is played by Ueto Aya, the FL in Nagareboshi, the contract-marriage-for-a-piece-of-your-liver drama.

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      Imagine my surprise when I realized I never thanked you for your recommendations. I’d wanted to check them out first before replying and then I forgot. I don’t know where I threw my manners so even though it’s late, I want to really, really thank you for your recommendations. I loved that it was detailed and that’s why I’d wanted to read through it so I could reply properly.

      Boku, Unmei no Hito desu is one the dramas that led me down this rabbit hole. Tomohisa Yamashita is so hilarious. I still remember ‘g.o.d, right here.’ I just had to google him.

      I’ve just started A Tale of Samurai Cooking — A True Love Story and I already like it. I’d remembered you’d mentioned me probably not liking a character’s haircut and imagine my surprise when I found out you weren’t referring to the men in this movie…👀 It’s taking me a while to get used to it. The actors are so dedicated to their craft. Seriously, I had to take a break despite just being 10mins in to type this.

      Watashi ni Unmei no Koi Nante Arienaitte Omotteta – I’ve seen the actor playing Sochiro in ‘I don’t love you yet’ and he’s such an asshole in it, I’m still pissed at his face (even though I’ve seen just two episodes) so I’ll keep this for a while till my irritation subsides.

      Nagareboshi – immediately piques my interest. I’m checking this out after the Samurai movie.

      Miss Sherlock – I love the series Sherlock so I’ll definitely check this one out. I tried googling what you meant by ‘wato san’ and it went over my head… till I googled it. Is it about it being a gender neutral pronoun or name…? 🤔

      Hello Harinezumi (2017) – another detective theme. It’d right down my alley. I love quirky, weird and wacky. Sign me TF up!

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        Really, thanks for the recommendations and I’m sorry I replied so late.

        P.S: I still can’t get over the hairstyle in A tale of Samurai cooking. 😂😂

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        Hiya @esther—Glad to hear you’re checking out some of these recommendations! Actor Takahashi Issei (plays Sochiro) was the one whose haircut initially annoyed because I find comb-from-back-of-head haircuts to be very suspicious. Like, what are they hiding? 😂 When Japanese and Chinese actors play period roles with the half-bald haircuts, I wonder if they just go totally bald and wear hairpieces …

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    Where to start~
    I would recommend Unnatural any day of the week! It’s from the writer of Nigeru wa Haji, and it’s brilliant. For rom-coms, off the top of my head I’d say Buzzer Beat and Last Cinderella. They’re mature, but funny, and the leads have great chemistry!

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      I can’t seem to find ‘Unnatural any day of the week’ no matter where I search. I want to check it out because it’s by the same writer.
      Thank you so much for taking your time to recommend these to me. 💜💜

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    – Tonbi – father and son relationship!
    – Kounodori – Various stories about family in relation to babies
    – Soratobu Kouhoushitsu – workplace with airplanes
    – Wakamonotachi – siblings and how they deal with life

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      Slice of life is one of my favorite genres in K-dramas so I’m mostly intrigued by Wakamontachi. Tonbi seems like somewhat sad but as long as it’s not tragedy, I’ll be tuning in.
      Thanks for the recommendations. 🙏🙏 I’m so excited I have a lot to add to my list now.

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