Did you try watching Quartet? It’s a quite interesting mix of drama, crime and comedy. It also keeps throwing curveballs so it never gets boring. My Japanese skills are terrible, but I was at least able to understand some of the dialogue without looking at the subtitles, and I learned a couple of things too.
あなたの番 – mystery thriller Japan Sinks (live action) – just like the title says
So far those are 2 dramas that I enjoyed.
Not live action, but I can’t recommend Oshi no Ko strong enough. It’s on Netflix and the first 2 episodes are out (first one is an hour 30 minutes long).
The setting is modern Japan’s entertainment industry, so very much day to day adult conversation with both semi-formal languages and casual conversations. Lots of modern terms used in everyday society.
I watched the whole thing in Japanese, and it’s more challenging than usual anime since it’s a drama/seinen piece, but it’s a great way to learn some advanced level spoken Japanese.
Grammar was simple enough but lots of phrases, vocab and common expressions that is used a lot by real Japanese people but may not occur in textbooks.
Giri/haji
The Full Time Wife Escapist was pretty fantastic!
Two that my wife and I enjoyed recently were “He’s Expecting” (ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠) and “Can’t write! ~A life without scenario~” (書けないッ!? 〜脚本家 吉丸圭佑の筋書きのない生活〜)
Both are lighthearted comedic dramas, the first one is about a guy in a world where men can very rarely become pregnant (guess what happens lol) and the second is about a house husband and washed up screenwriter that lucks into his dream prime time job and gets in over his head. Hilarity ensues on both parts, a little tugging of heart strings as well. 8 episodes each.
IWGP and Tiger & Dragon
For something a bit different, I recommend **Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light**. The plot revolves around Akio Inaba who rekindles his bond with his retired and distant father Hirotaro through the online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV. Akio’s plan is to connect with his father in-game and that it will expand into the real world.
There’s both an 8-part mini series and a movie. Clips from the video games are used in an interesting way to push forward the story that makes sense. Both are based on the real-world blog of Aiko. I haven’t watched the movie, but I’m sure it’s touching as well.
I liked the first season of Alice in borderland, but I heard the 2nd season is ass
not a drama, but 水曜どうでしよう (How do You Like Wednesday?) is a real rib splitter.
MIU404 and Heaven and Hell are both good crime dramas.
I’ve seen a lot of Japanese crime dramas recently, but not on Netflix. If you’re interested, I recommend:
– Cheat – The Memorandum of Kyoko Okitegami – The Files of the Young Kindaichi (this one is on Disney+) – Nemesis – Medium Detective Hisui Jozuka (edit: this show has a sequel and I think it’s very important that you watch the first show before you watch the second show!) – Miss Sherlock
Not crime dramas, but from the ones I’ve watched on Netflix, I did enjoy:
– Alice in Borderland – The Naked Director – The Could’ve-Gone-All-the-Way Committee – Re: Mind – Erased (live-action version) – Kakegurui (live-action version) – Good Morning Call (stop judging me!)
Also, not on Netflix, but I can’t stop recommending “Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t” on Disney+
Others not on streaming services I’ve watched recently and enjoyed are:
– Rental Person Who Does Nothing – My High School Business – Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom – Yuru Camp – Pretty Proofreader – Legal High – A Restaurant with Many Problems – Unlucky Girl – Kakegurui Twin (live-action version)
I don’t know if it’s still there as it was released years ago now, but I loved Hibana: Spark.
Oddball dramedy about the world of manzai comedians.
Scams is a good (and short) one.
You probably already know it, but Midnight Diner is really solid.
Netflix isn’t my go-to for J-dramas at the moment, so I’m not sure what else is good that’s on there.
Let’s go for comedy:
Do you like Dragon Quest? The 勇者ヨシヒコ series is a comedic live action adaptation of that. しくじり先生 is on Netflix too I believe, it’s all about famous people talking about how they messed up their lives. 結婚できない男 was pretty popular around 15 or so years ago, it’s about an eccentric architect whom is pushing 40 and the crazy antics he gets involved with as he tries to *not* get romantically involved with anybody. 鬼嫁日記 is from around the same time period, it’s based on a blog about a guy whom is constantly being abused by his wife. It’s very episodic and gag oriented, but weirdly accurate on the power dynamic between husbands and wives in Japan. 11人もいる! is another great little comedy series about a man whom loses his wife in a tragic accident, remarries, but then is haunted by the ghost of his dead first wife. It really has a distinct visual style and is quite funny, but the humor would be considered insensitive by modern standard so just be aware.
I’d also recommend 実効警察 and 名探偵の掟. These are technically crime dramas, but are firmly in the parody/comedy camp. 実効警察 is about a police officer (and was whacky co-workers) who solves crimes that have passed the statue of limitations as his hobby. 名探偵の掟 is about a detective who understands that he’s just a character in a bad late-night TV show.
Also, I think it’s available internationally, but “チャネルはそのまま！” is a fun locally produced TV-drama (I think Sapporo?) about a local TV station trying to survive when a big network comes in to try and dominate the area.
oldie but goodie – kekkon dekinai otoko.
My favourite I’ve seen recently is ‘what did you eat yesterday?’
And also, I really liked the live action version of ‘way of the househusband’ – even more than the anime even!
I liked Alice in Borderland though it’s pretty gory at times, kinda Hunger Games-y but with no explanation.
The Erased drama is even better than the anime tbh and I’m pretty sure it’s on Netflix!
Highly rate Legal High if it’s still on there
Nobuta wo Produce was quite refreshing! A high school drama wholesome and not focused on romance
A recent fave of mine is Alice in Borderland. Very well done sci-fi drama.
I think it’s on any region Netflix but I’m watching Japan Sinks at the moment, really good
These are both kinda food nerd shows, and maybe not super drama-ish? But I loved Izakaya Shinkansen and Samurai Gourmet.
The first is about a salary man who travels for work, and his primary pleasure is exploring local cuisine and bringing bento on the train.
The second is about a retired salary man who is learning how to live his life after working, and tries to model his decisions after an imaginary samurai. There’s a lot about food and how nostalgic it is; it’s a very cute show.
Not a single GTO recommendation? It will probably be difficult to watch it entirely in Japanese and understand everything but it’s a great show that was really popular when it came out. The two main female/male cast members eventually got married in real life and it has the hit song Poison. Oh and Toshkent kabozuka it’s in it.
27 comments
Did you try watching Quartet? It’s a quite interesting mix of drama, crime and comedy. It also keeps throwing curveballs so it never gets boring. My Japanese skills are terrible, but I was at least able to understand some of the dialogue without looking at the subtitles, and I learned a couple of things too.
あなたの番 – mystery thriller
Japan Sinks (live action) – just like the title says
So far those are 2 dramas that I enjoyed.
Not live action, but I can’t recommend Oshi no Ko strong enough. It’s on Netflix and the first 2 episodes are out (first one is an hour 30 minutes long).
The setting is modern Japan’s entertainment industry, so very much day to day adult conversation with both semi-formal languages and casual conversations. Lots of modern terms used in everyday society.
I watched the whole thing in Japanese, and it’s more challenging than usual anime since it’s a drama/seinen piece, but it’s a great way to learn some advanced level spoken Japanese.
Grammar was simple enough but lots of phrases, vocab and common expressions that is used a lot by real Japanese people but may not occur in textbooks.
Giri/haji
The Full Time Wife Escapist was pretty fantastic!
Two that my wife and I enjoyed recently were “He’s Expecting” (ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠) and “Can’t write! ~A life without scenario~” (書けないッ!? 〜脚本家 吉丸圭佑の筋書きのない生活〜)
Both are lighthearted comedic dramas, the first one is about a guy in a world where men can very rarely become pregnant (guess what happens lol) and the second is about a house husband and washed up screenwriter that lucks into his dream prime time job and gets in over his head. Hilarity ensues on both parts, a little tugging of heart strings as well. 8 episodes each.
IWGP and Tiger & Dragon
For something a bit different, I recommend **Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light**. The plot revolves around Akio Inaba who rekindles his bond with his retired and distant father Hirotaro through the online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV. Akio’s plan is to connect with his father in-game and that it will expand into the real world.
There’s both an 8-part mini series and a movie. Clips from the video games are used in an interesting way to push forward the story that makes sense. Both are based on the real-world blog of Aiko. I haven’t watched the movie, but I’m sure it’s touching as well.
I liked the first season of Alice in borderland, but I heard the 2nd season is ass
not a drama, but 水曜どうでしよう (How do You Like Wednesday?) is a real rib splitter.
MIU404 and Heaven and Hell are both good crime dramas.
I’ve seen a lot of Japanese crime dramas recently, but not on Netflix. If you’re interested, I recommend:
– Cheat
– The Memorandum of Kyoko Okitegami
– The Files of the Young Kindaichi (this one is on Disney+)
– Nemesis
– Medium Detective Hisui Jozuka (edit: this show has a sequel and I think it’s very important that you watch the first show before you watch the second show!)
– Miss Sherlock
Not crime dramas, but from the ones I’ve watched on Netflix, I did enjoy:
– Alice in Borderland
– The Naked Director
– The Could’ve-Gone-All-the-Way Committee
– Re: Mind
– Erased (live-action version)
– Kakegurui (live-action version)
– Good Morning Call (stop judging me!)
Also, not on Netflix, but I can’t stop recommending “Sumo Do, Sumo Don’t” on Disney+
Others not on streaming services I’ve watched recently and enjoyed are:
– Rental Person Who Does Nothing
– My High School Business
– Mr. Hiiragi’s Homeroom
– Yuru Camp
– Pretty Proofreader
– Legal High
– A Restaurant with Many Problems
– Unlucky Girl
– Kakegurui Twin (live-action version)
I don’t know if it’s still there as it was released years ago now, but I loved Hibana: Spark.
Oddball dramedy about the world of manzai comedians.
Scams is a good (and short) one.
You probably already know it, but Midnight Diner is really solid.
Netflix isn’t my go-to for J-dramas at the moment, so I’m not sure what else is good that’s on there.
Let’s go for comedy:
Do you like Dragon Quest? The 勇者ヨシヒコ series is a comedic live action adaptation of that. しくじり先生 is on Netflix too I believe, it’s all about famous people talking about how they messed up their lives. 結婚できない男 was pretty popular around 15 or so years ago, it’s about an eccentric architect whom is pushing 40 and the crazy antics he gets involved with as he tries to *not* get romantically involved with anybody. 鬼嫁日記 is from around the same time period, it’s based on a blog about a guy whom is constantly being abused by his wife. It’s very episodic and gag oriented, but weirdly accurate on the power dynamic between husbands and wives in Japan. 11人もいる! is another great little comedy series about a man whom loses his wife in a tragic accident, remarries, but then is haunted by the ghost of his dead first wife. It really has a distinct visual style and is quite funny, but the humor would be considered insensitive by modern standard so just be aware.
I’d also recommend 実効警察 and 名探偵の掟. These are technically crime dramas, but are firmly in the parody/comedy camp. 実効警察 is about a police officer (and was whacky co-workers) who solves crimes that have passed the statue of limitations as his hobby. 名探偵の掟 is about a detective who understands that he’s just a character in a bad late-night TV show.
Also, I think it’s available internationally, but “チャネルはそのまま！” is a fun locally produced TV-drama (I think Sapporo?) about a local TV station trying to survive when a big network comes in to try and dominate the area.
oldie but goodie – kekkon dekinai otoko.
My favourite I’ve seen recently is ‘what did you eat yesterday?’
And also,
I really liked the live action version of ‘way of the househusband’ – even more than the anime even!
I liked Alice in Borderland though it’s pretty gory at times, kinda Hunger Games-y but with no explanation.
The Erased drama is even better than the anime tbh and I’m pretty sure it’s on Netflix!
Highly rate Legal High if it’s still on there
Nobuta wo Produce was quite refreshing! A high school drama wholesome and not focused on romance
A recent fave of mine is Alice in Borderland. Very well done sci-fi drama.
I think it’s on any region Netflix but I’m watching Japan Sinks at the moment, really good
These are both kinda food nerd shows, and maybe not super drama-ish? But I loved Izakaya Shinkansen and Samurai Gourmet.
The first is about a salary man who travels for work, and his primary pleasure is exploring local cuisine and bringing bento on the train.
The second is about a retired salary man who is learning how to live his life after working, and tries to model his decisions after an imaginary samurai. There’s a lot about food and how nostalgic it is; it’s a very cute show.
Not a single GTO recommendation? It will probably be difficult to watch it entirely in Japanese and understand everything but it’s a great show that was really popular when it came out. The two main female/male cast members eventually got married in real life and it has the hit song Poison. Oh and Toshkent kabozuka it’s in it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Teacher_Onizuka
My favourites have been Alice in Borderland and The Journalist.
The Naked Director is great. Easy to understand and the titties command your undivided attention.