Asian Drama

Okitama Miyabi is the director of Zenryoiki Ijou Kaiketsu Shitsu (known as Zenketsu). The company is the oldest investigation agency that tries to solve mysterious cases. Miyabi exudes an elegant aura and he possesses extraordinary knowledge, memory, and insight. With his abilities, he solves inexplicable abnormal cases that can’t be solved by even cutting-edge scientific investigations. His cases often involve the paranormal and the occult. He visits the scene and investigates in detail, putting all the facts together and deducing a hypothesis that everyone can understand. The words that he speaks are mysterious and he is a person who doesn't show people what he is in his mind.

Episodes: 10

Aired On: Wednesday

Duration: 54 min.

Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

Okitama Miyabi is the director of Zenryoiki Ijou Kaiketsu Shitsu (known as Zenketsu). The company is the oldest investigation agency that tries to solve mysterious cases. Miyabi exudes an elegant aura and he possesses extraordinary knowledge, memory, and insight. With his abilities, he solves inexplicable abnormal cases that can’t be solved by even cutting-edge scientific investigations. His cases often involve the paranormal and the occult. He visits the scene and investigates in detail, putting all the facts together and deducing a hypothesis that everyone can understand. The words that he speaks are mysterious and he is a person who doesn't show people what he is in his mind.

Episodes: 10

Aired On: Wednesday

Duration: 54 min.

Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

This dark medical drama examines the meaning of human life, centring on a team of unidentified black-market doctors who undertake any kind of surgery with superhuman surgical skills and exorbitant medical expenses. Hazama Eisuke, also known as "Ace", is a genius surgeon who works as a patissier during the day. He has an operating room equipped with the latest equipment in the basement of his patisserie, where he performs surgeries on patients who have been abandoned by others. Shimoyamada Jo, also known as "Joker", is a brilliant international lawyer and a negotiator with patients.

Kento Ohashi (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is a novice ion engine developer working on a team that is launching the unmanned Hayabusa spacecraft into outerspace. His father Isao (Tomokazu Miura) was the leader of a previously failed space probe named Nozomi. Now, Kento pursues his dreams and his father's while experiencing the unexpected surprises that comes with the Hayabusa's 7 year odyssey. ~~ Based on the true story of the unmanned Hayabusa spacecraft launched by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in 2003.

Shishikari is a remote island, which is behind the times. The island suffers from a decreasing population and declining industries. Keita Izumi (Tatsuya Fujiwara) begins to produce black fig on Shishikari Island. Because of his well received product, the island is close to receiving a 5 billion yen grant from the government, which is part of the goverment's policy to reinvigorate rural economy. The residents of the island are excited, but their peaceful days changes by the appearance of Mutsuo Komisaka. Keita Izumi and his friends Jun Tanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) and Rookie Police Officer Shinichiro Moriya are suspicious about him. One night, Keita Izumi's daughter goes missing. Due to that, Keita Izumi, Jun Tanabe and Shinichiro Moriya happen to kill Mutsuo Komisaka. They decide to hide Mutsuo Komisaka’s murder to protect the future of the island and their families. It turns out Mutsuo Komisaka was a psycho killer. Police officers come to Shishikari Island to catch Mutsuo Komisaka.

Adapted from the manga series "Noise" (ノイズ) by Tsutsui Tetsuya (筒井哲也).

Shinichi Tsuda, a Naoki Prize winning author, is working to publish his newest story. It revolves around Tsuyama, a driver for a call girl business in Toyama Prefecture, who comes across a mysterious counterfeit bill and has his life targeted by underworld kingpin Kurata. Is his story fact or fiction? His editor, Nahomi Torikai, decides to verify whether his latest work is mere fiction based on real-life experiences. She looks into a family that vanished, a post office worker who went missing, a shady load of cash, the whereabouts of the doves, and the fateful encounter from that night... A series of shocking facts are revealed from Tsuda’s stories. Why did the counterfeit money end up in Tsuda’s hands? What is the “ending” that Tsuda wished to portray?

Adapted from a novel of the same name.

Kazuhiko Takano and Ryoichi Taoka are industrial spies for the secretive organization "AN Tsuushin." They are are in a struggle over information on state of the art solar energy development that many other countries are seeking. A conspiracy exits behind the technology which can shake the political and economic world in Japan. Kazuhiko Takano faces Korean spy Kim, a mysterious woman Ayako and powerful men from various countries.

Tokyo decides to introduce a police system for schools. The school police will reside on campus at middle schools. Ryuhei Shimada is a detective for the Investigation Unit 1 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He always stays cool and calm, but he has a spiteful tongue. Ryuhei Shimada decides to apply for the new school police system and he is assigned to work at Akamine Middle School. That school looks like an ordinary middle school, but there are dark problems at the school including drug use and secret shootings. Meanwhile, Ryoko Asamura is a Japanese language teacher at Akamine Middle School. She is opposed to the school police system. She always takes the side of the students and finds herself in conflict Ryuhei Shimada.

Kaiji is about to ave his life changed. The thrill is beyond anything he, or most people, have experienced. The adventure is not without risk and danger however. He is given four games, which are challenges, and include life and death situations.

Takano Kazuhiko, an agent for a secret organization, has a small bomb embedded in his heart and is pushed to breaking point. His partner is Taoka Ryoichi. They begin a dangerous game of wits with agents from other countries over top-secret information about next-generation energy while facing the risk of death round the clock. Amid an extreme situation where they do not know who are their allies and foes, the bombs in their hearts approach the limit.

The story of a young man who has felt since childhood utterly alien from others around him. Since that time he has learned to put on a face to hide his alienation. He feels incapable of belonging to the human society, especially so by society's refusal to take him seriously. He then follows a descent into alcohol, drugs, and suicide...

Based on one of the best-selling Japanese novels by Dazai Osamu.

Kanako Oba uses a mysterious site to apply for part-time work. As a result, her life is soon in jeopardy. She is forced to work at the restaurant Diner as a waitress or she will be killed. The restaurant is membership only and their customers are all contract killers.

Akiba used to be a successful businessman. Now he spends his days working on developing mobile apps. He settles down at Koshiro’s office. Koshiro runs a temp agency, which is experiencing financial distress. Koshiro dreams of becoming a successful businessman.

One day, Akiba and Koshiro meet Eri as she is being chased by a loan shark. Eri begins to live with Akiba and Koshiro.

Meanwhile, Isao knows Akiba from their past. He now runs a successful investment company and dominates people with his wealth.

Akiba and Isao decide to buy a Tokyo broadcasting station.

Akiba used to be a successful businessman. Now he spends his days working on developing mobile apps. He settles down at Koshiro’s office. Koshiro runs a temp agency, which is experiencing financial distress. Koshiro dreams of becoming a successful businessman.

One day, Akiba and Koshiro meet Eri as she is being chased by a loan shark. Eri begins to live with Akiba and Koshiro.

Meanwhile, Isao knows Akiba from their past. He now runs a successful investment company and dominates people with his wealth.

Akiba and Isao decide to buy a Tokyo broadcasting station.

Kazuo’s younger brother went missing, leaving behind debt for Kazuo. To pay off his brother's debt, Kazuo works at the library during the day and works at a bread factory at night. His wife and daughter soon leaves him. One day, Kazuo wins 300 million yen from the lottery. He feels uneasy about the amount of money he has won. He decides to do research on other people who won the lottery and he learns a lot of the winners became miserable. Kazuo decides to visit his rich friend Tsukumo for advice. Tsukumo tells him that he doesn't know the meaning of money. They spend time together, but the next day Kazuo discovers that his 300 million yen winning is gone and so is his friend Tsukumo. To get the money back, he meets various people who worked with Tsukumo.

Balsa and the crown prince Chagum travel together again. The young boy who survived because he was protected by Balsa, has gone through suffering and grown into a splendid crown prince. Balsa starts to expose the conspiracy that lies hidden deep in the bowels of her beautiful homeland of the Kingdom of Kambal. And then, Chagum stands up to the attack of the Talsh Empire which has targeted the New Yogo Empire. A natural disaster occurs that shakes the land. Gold birds flutter in the sky.

Salaryman Fukase Kazuhisa graduated from a famous university but his life is very ordinary and unremarkable. His only hobby – if it can be called that – is drinking coffee. Coffee, in fact, leads him to Mihoko Ochi, who becomes his girlfriend. Then one day, Mihoko receives a mysterious letter which consists of a single line, “Kazuhisa Fukase is a murderer.” Fukase’s instinct tells him that the time has finally come to face “that incident” 10 years ago. One winter 10 years ago, his good friend Hirosawa Yuki died in an unfortunate accident during a snowboarding trip with his university classmates Tanihara Yasuo (Ichihara Hayato), Asami Kosuke , Murai Takaaki and Murai’s younger sister Asuka. However, there is a big secret hidden in that accident. Letters are also sent to Tanihara, Tanihara and Murai who also share in this secret, and even they are hit by a series of incidents. Fukase decides to confront the truth of the past in order to protect the people dear to him.

Based on Reverse by Minato Kanae.

He is a brilliant system engineer who is an up-and-comer at his company. In his private life, he has a fiancée. Just when he was at the pinnacle of joy, he suddenly disappears from the face of the earth. "No, you're not Todo Shinichi." Even the name on his official family registry and certificate of residence has been changed. His bank accounts have been seized and his employment has been terminated on grounds that he is a missing person. Without an official family registry, he can't even get married. Did someone set him up? The suspect begins to emerge... Although Shinichi was left with nothing but loneliness, he won't allow himself to go down this way. He won't give up, no matter how much he is betrayed. He will keep believing in people. No matter what happens to him, he will not succumb. "I will uncover the truth, regardless of what it takes." No matter how many times he falls, Shinichi will get back up.

Balsa (Haruka Ayase) is a 30-year-old female bodyguard-for-hire. Her life changes when she saves Imperial Prince Chagumu who is being carried away by a raging river. They then attempt to return the great egg of the water spirit, which is in Prince Chagumu's possession to its source in the sea. Along the way, they are hunted by hired assassins.

Satoru Fujinuma is an unpopular manga artist, who doesn't like having relationships with other people, although he also works part-time delivering pizzas. Satoru has the special ability of "revival", that allows him to go back in time before terrible incidents occurred and right whatever wrong occurred. He goes back continually until the incidents are prevented. 18 years ago, a serial murder case took place with the victims being children. Satoru, using the body of an elementary school student, travels to that time to catch the killer and to save his mother who faced the criminal.

Satoru Fujinuma is an unpopular manga artist, who doesn't like having relationships with other people, although he also works part-time delivering pizzas. Satoru has the special ability of "revival", that allows him to go back in time before terrible incidents occurred and right whatever wrong occurred. He goes back continually until the incidents are prevented. 18 years ago, a serial murder case took place with the victims being children. Satoru, using the body of an elementary school student, travels to that time to catch the killer and to save his mother who faced the criminal.

Sakurai Taro’s parents died young. His grandmother, Akiko, has been making great effort to protect her struggling candy store, Sakuraya, in the old part of Tokyo, but it's not easy. Taro eats candy with regular customers such as chilhood friend Saegusa Hiroki who aspires to be a scriptwriter, and talk nonsense, like in their youth. However, they realize this unfettered, comfortable existence will end some day with the passage of time. Then Taro’s ex-classmate, Kimura Reiko, comes back home with her son after a divorce. He and his friends start to notice what is truly important to them as they face up to their pasts, dreams and pains.

A spin-off of the popular Death Note films, L: Change The World focuses on the legendary detective L as he uses his final 23 days to solve crimes all over the world. When a young girl and boy come to him for aid, L is soon faced with what may be his most difficult case yet: stopping a group of corrupted scientists from spreading a lethal virus throughout the earth.

The 43rd NHK Taiga Drama is Shinsengumi!. The arrival of Commodore Perry's "Black Ships" rudely awakened Japan from 300 years of peaceful isolation from the world. Men set their eyes beyond Japan and began to demand change in society. Old clashed with the new, and thus began an age of turmoil. Amidst this confusion, one group remained true to the old ways and risked their lives to preserve the traditional shogunate system. Led by their charismatic captain, Kondo Isami, the Shinsengumi upheld the code of honor of the samurai. Tales abound of the feats of men like Kondo, Hijikata Toshizo, Saito Hajime, and Okita Soji. This NHK taiga drama brings to life the passion and glory of these men who lived during the most turbulent time in Japanese history. Full of pathos and action-packed, this is a series not to be missed by chambara fans.

Elite researcher Suenaga Takuya, his department rival Hashimoto Atsushi, and Manager Nishina Toshiki plot to kill Amemiya Yasuko, the CEO’s secretary and a shared mistress, whose pregnancy threatens to destroy their futures. However, their plan unravels when a mysterious 4th individual becomes involved, and the 3 men become the targets of wrath instead.

Shishio has set sail in his ironclad ship to bring down the Meiji government and return Japan to chaos, carrying Kaoru with him. In order to stop him in time, Kenshin trains with his old master to learn his final technique.

The ST team at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department consists of eccentric members. Akagi works as an analyst on the ST team. He won't appear in front of others, but his colleagues trust him as a leader. Yurine is tasked to manage the ST team. He experiences difficulties in dealing with the team. Meanwhile, the ST team come into conflict with other detectives at the police department over an indiscriminate gun firing case and a grotesque murder case. This forces Akagi to appear in front others. Akagi and Yurine work together to solve the case.

A man (Tatsuya Fujiwara) possesses a special ability to manipulate others with just his eyes. Because of this special ability, he killed his abusive father and was abandoned by his mother. He now lives a lonely life in the dark side of a city.

Meanwhile, Shuichi Tanaka (Takayuki Yamada) doesn't have a family and lives with his friends. Even though he is poor, he has a bright outlook on life.

One day, these two men meet. The man becomes confused, because he can't manipulate Shuichi with his eyes.

1. Remake of 2010 South Korean film "Haunters" starring Gang Dong-Won & Ko Soo.

2. Filming began in July, 2013.

Ito Kaiji erased all of his debts by successfully navigating through death-defying games one after the other. A year later though, he's back in the same debt-ridden situation. Kaiji then gets a chance to clear himself of his 200 million yen debt, but he has only 2 weeks. Kaji then decides to take on the mother of all pachinko machines named "The Swamp". The top winning payout is over 1 billion yen. "The Swamp" is controlled by an illegal casino operation named Teiai. Meanwhile, Ichijo Seiya, controls the machine from a remote location to ensure the machine never pays out the jackpot. Kaiji recruits the help of Ishida Hiromi, whose father was killed by Teiai, Kotaro Sakazaki a fired employee of Teiai, and Yukio Tonegawa who lost his position at the hands of Teiai. They all join Kaiji to take down "The Swamp," but their lives are at stake.

Fujiwara stars as a man who was in an accident on a snowy mountain 46 years ago. His frozen body is discovered in the present day, and despite being actually 71 years old, he has the appearance and personality of a 25-year-old. He also learns that at his old home in Oshiage, Tokyo, his son is now 52 years old and is raising two children of his own – a 25-year-old son and a 20-year-old daughter.

Episodes: 8

Duration: 22 min.

Ratings: 7.2

Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Ito Kaiji moves to Tokyo after graduating from high school. Unable to find a job and frustrated with society at large, Kaiji spends his days gambling, vandalizing cars, and drinking booze. Two years later and his life no better, a debt collector named Endo arrives to collect money. The debt collector then offers two choices to Kaiji: spend 10 years paying off your loan or board a gambling boat for one night to repay your debt and possibly make a whole lot more. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Endo is actually conning Kaiji, believing he won't come back from voyage. Kaiji is then up for the night of his life.

The story begins on the heels of the first movie as Light Yagami joins the investigation team in pursuit of the serial killer known as "Kira." While L still strongly suspects that Light is "Kira," Light tries to uncover L's real name so he can kill him with his Death Note. Confusingly enough, a new rash of murders all around the world are taking place, with a "Second Kira" claiming responsibility. Light learns the identity of the Second Kira and suggests they join forces to get rid of L. Will L be able to catch "Kira" before he is killed?

A Shinigami (Death God) drops a notebook in the human world where a young genius picks it up. The notebook displays the message: "The human whose name is written in this note shall die" It is the notebook of death that can determine when a person will die. Light Yagami, an extremely bright elite university student, is the one to possess this ultimate tool that should remain only in the hands of God. Light decides to create an ideal world and begins to hold the scales to judge the criminals in his discretion.

Meanwhile, the ICPO (International Criminal Police Organization) has placed a mysterious detective called "L" in the Japanese police force to investigate the series of criminal cases. "L" is an eccentric genius who has successfully solved many cases in the past that were deemed unsolvable. With L's expertise, the police are able to tighten the investigative screws over these cases, but Light, also cleverly manipulating the notebook of death, tosses and shakes the investigation. The future of mankind is at the mercy of this fierce battle between the two brains.

Hirosue Ryoko plays a pouty, blind girl with a chip on her shoulder (chips and grudges are in this quarter), whose very wealthy father has just died and left her his estate. Her mother left him years ago, taking her older brother, but leaving her behind. The sweet, but none-too-sharp brother, Reiji, writes her for years but the housekeeper throws the letters away. Now it turns out that this sweet Reiji (let's call him Reiji I), has gone to work as a cook for another guy named Reiji (Reiji II played by Watabe Atsuro), the cold-hearted head of a very successful Kabukicho host club. The girls all love him, but all he loves is his bankbook. Reiji II's life goes well until one day a rich executive's wife, who has been providing him with millions, turns out to be a poor bank clerk who has embezzled all the cash from her employer. Reiji II did not know this, but the police do not believe him and he heads off to serve six months as an accessory to the crime. The distraught, sweet Reiji I steps into the street to protest as Reiji II is driven off to jail, gets hit by a motorcycle and dies.

Six months later, Reiji II returns to find that the world of Kabukicho has turned against him and, during his incarceration, he has somehow run up a huge debt to the district's worst loan shark. As he prepares to be eaten alive by the nasty loan sharks, a private detective shows up looking for Reiji I, so he can reunite him with his long-lost sister. Somebody gets Reiji I and II confused, but Reiji II does a quick take on the situation. Seeing this as his only hope of swimming out of shark-infested waters, he takes it. He steals the identity of the other Reiji and heads off for a reunion with his newfound "sister." Bitter and angry about something as yet undisclosed, she is in no mood to be won over and slashes him on the cheek with her white cane. End of episode one. And yes, that was the best offering of the week. (Wm Penn, Excerpt from Daily Yomiuri, 2002-Jul-18).

Sabu and Eiji were best friends since they were small. They served as poor trainees in a traditional umbrella store. When they grew up, it was time for them to turn on a new leaf and live on their own. Unforturnately, Eiji was falsely accused as a thief. He was then isolated in a deserted island and forced to work as a coolie. Eiji was very angry and upset. He kept on thinking of ways to take revenge on the person who falsely incriminate him. During this period, Sabu kept on supporting Eiji and visiting him in jail. At the beginning, Eiji was jealous of Sabu and became hostile to him. As time went by Eiji met many pals in the jail and they worked hard to fight against many difficults. Finally, Eiji learnt to compromise to his fate. After many years of isolation, when Eiji was about to recover his freedom, a cruel fact was revealed to him by Sabu and it drove Eiji crazy.....