Asian Drama

Set during the Edo Period, "Sword of Desperation" tells the unforgettable story of swordsman Kanemi Sanzawmon. Three years ago, Kanemi Sanzawmon killed Renko, the mistress of the powerful daimyo Tabu Ukyou and a woman causing corruption. Unexpectedly, Kanemi Sanzawon received a lenient punishment and was able to return to his clan in only one year. After the death of his wife Mutsue, Kanemi Sanzawon lives with and takes care of Mutsue's niece Satoo. Kanemi is unaware of Satoo's secret affections for him, but she is able to change his outlook on life. Meanwhile, Kanemi Sanzawon's unique "bird-catching" sword fighting technique will be tested when he must battle Hayatonosho Obiya.

17-year-old Salya grew up in Japan from an early age, leaving the place where she was born with a Kurdish family. She lived a normal high school life, just like the Japanese of her generation, but at some point she lost her status of residence and her family's daily life changed completely. In Saitama, there is an area where about 2000 Kurds live, and Salya is a high school girl who lives there. It tells the story of her growing up, struggling with her identity when she meets a Japanese boy.

"Tora-san, Welcome Back" is the fiftieth film in the "Tora-san" series. Its release is also set to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the series. Kiyoshi Atsumi, who played the eponymous character, will appear via scenes intercut with previous films.

Hiroshi makes high-grade charcoals at a charcoal kiln that he inherited from his father. He has a wife and a son going through a rebellious phase. Hiroshi is indifferent to his family. One day, Hiroshi's ex-friend Eisuke comes back to his hometown. Eisuke is a former self-defense official. After Hiroshi learns about Eisuke's past, he decides to take his job and family more seriously.

Ritsu was abandoned by his mother Reiko when he was little, so now he belongs in the lower social strata. One day, Ritsu gets involved in a case and his head is severely injured, so he can die at anytime. Convinced she abandoned him due to poverty, Ritsu attempts to find his mother and be good to her before his death. But when he learns that she is leading a happy life instead, with her pianist son Satoru, he decides to take revenge on his mother. Ritsu then meets Rinka, a girl whom he happened to help in the past, and discovers she is Satoru’s childhood friend.

Three tales about enigmatic strangers entering into the lives of trusting citizens play out in three different Japanese cities, hinting at a connection to a grisly home invasion homicide in the Tokyo metro area.

37-year-old Makabe Suzune is single, popular scriptwriter who lives in Tokyo. Although she is having a clandestine adulterous relationship with drama producer Yanai Mamoru, they continue to go out with respect for each other. Just as Suzune is feeling that...

Plain, timid and obsessed with jellyfish, Tsukimi is a far cry from her idea of a princess. Her tepid life as a jobless illustrator comes complete with roommates who harbor diehard hobbies that solidify their status as hopeless social rejects. These wallflowers run a tight, nun-like ship, but their no-men-allowed-not-no-one-not-no-how bubble is unwittingly burst after Tsukimi brings home a rescued sea jelly and a beauty queen... who's actually a guy. When the threat of losing their cozy convent inspires this glamour boy to turn the neurotic entourage into a portrait of success, will Tsukimi take her chance to bloom, or will she end up a hot mess?

ER doctor Tsuyoshi Matsuoka receives a patient with a virus unlike anything he's seen before. His symptoms include high fever, convulsions, vomiting of blood and multiple organ failure. Could this be a new form of influenza or is it some other variety of virus? As the situation worsens and more cases begin arriving, a medical officer from the World Health Organization named Eiko Kobayashi is dispatched to the area. At the rate the virus is spreading, the entire city's transportation system and infrastructure would be brought to a halt within 3 months. Within 6 months it could spread to tens of millions of people--reaching a death toll far worse than any war.

Death-row inmate Sudo (Pierre Taki) sends a letter to magazine reporter Fujii (Takayuki Yamada). In his letter, he states that a man named Kimura (Lily Franky), also known as "teacher," committed numerous murders for insurance money. While checking out the story, based on Sudo's tip, Fuji becomes convinced that the letter is correct. But, a lot of time has passed from the incidents and Sudo's testimony isn't clear. Due to the persistance of Sudo, who is a former yakuza, and Fuji, the police begin to move.

The 46th Historical Drama is a life story of Yamamoto Kansuke, a lonely genius of strategy at the Age of the Civil War in the 16th century. Kansuke works under Takeda Shingen and pursues his dream of unifying the whole country through aiding the warlord of Kai. At the same time, Kansuke supports Shingen’s concubine Yu from his selfless affection for the woman who hates but eventually loves the warlord who killed her father and family. With the aid of Kansuke’s strategies, Shingen expands his power northward, where he is destined to fight with Kenshin Uesugi, the warlord of Echigo. The drama portrays how those who fight for their dreams face their destinies in the turbulent age.

Singer Hyeon Seok develops problems with his hearing (Menieres syndrome) and has to stop his recordings. He notices a picture of Hokkaido in a magazine and decides to travel there. He eventually arrives in a a small village in Hokkaido for rest. While there, he reminisces about the old days. The owner of the inn offers him a Japanese meal. There he meets a bright cheerful girl named Megumi.

Tatsuo Sato quits his job and roams around aimlessly, trying to escape from his painful past. Tatsuo Sato then meets Takuji Oshiro (Masaki Suda) at a pachinko parlor. They strike up a friendship and Tatsuo goes with Takuji to his home. Takuji's home is located along the beach, but the home is a rundown shack.

There, Takuji lives with his ill father, ambivalent mother and older sister Chinatsu (Chizuru Ikewaki). Tatsuo sees something special with Chinatsu. A light shines there despite the oppressive atmosphere that surrounds their situation.

11 mysteries, 11 actors. Japan's favorite mystery author, the world of Higashino Keigo comes to life on screen through an assortment of short stories.

For every episode, there will be a different lead actor and story, it's themes varying from mystery to comedy to horror to human drama. Nakai Kiichi is the navigator as he takes you on a journey through each episode, seasoned with Higashino's authentic spices, failing your assumptions with vivid story composition and an even bigger betrayal before the finale. It's a weekly drama that will keep you hungry from episode to episode, like a special holiday event each and every time.

The murder of Emili, a young girl, leaves the inhabitants of a small Japanese village in shock. The raped body of Emily is found by the four classmates with whom she was playing. The murder is never solved. Emili's mother Asako is torn by grief and puts a curse on the four girls when they claim that they don't remember the killer's face. Each of the girls, in their own way, will do their penance for their silence. Deeply struck by the words of Asako and burdened with her curse, the four girls are forced into adulthood which eventually triggers a tragic chain of events.

Adapted from the novel by Kanae Minato.

Underneath the veneer of orderly lives, frozen smiles and awkward averted glances, SWEET LITTLE LIES is a cold-as-steel clinical study of a couple. Married for three years, the couple keeps up the apparently tender rituals of newlyweds, but all is not as bright and beautiful as it would seem. Miki Nakatani, “the best Japanese actress of her generation” (Mark Schilling, Japan Times) plays the emotionally and sexually starved wife in Hitoshi Yazaki’s anti-melodramatic chronicle of the disintegration of a marriage. Even the most seasoned viewers will be struck by the menacing calm of Yazaki’s compositions, and his unveiling of lives made from lies.

The Homeless Student is a film adaptation of a national best-seller autobiography novel "The Homeless Junior High School Student". After a term closing ceremony, Hiroshi comes up home and finds the yellow tape attachment on the entrance of his house. Hiroshi suddenly becomes homeless at fourteen. He starts to spend his nights in public parks and eat cardboard to survive. Homeless life with laughter and tears. However, through the homeless life, Hiroshi learns important things as a person. ..

Duration: 1 hr. 56 min.

Ratings: 7.1

One day a puppy comes to the house of Akari, who has just turned twelve and was trying hard to act strong after her mother suddenly fell ill. She immediately falls in love with the puppy and names it "Socks" after the paws which looked like they had white socks on. Akari was together with Socks day and night. However, as Akari grows up, her feelings and interests move away from Socks. Year by year, their distance grows, which also leads to her physical distance as she moves to a far-off city, and must leave Socks behind to a childhood friend. One day, Akari remembers the 10 promises that she had made with Socks and her deceased mother.

The plot revolves around four ladies struggle to find happiness in the capital city of Tokyo:

Satoko: Works as a receptionist at an escort service “Heavan’s Gate.” At home, she often prays to God to find a boy that will love her.

Chihiro: Works in a low level office position. When her roommate, Toko, asks if there is a God, she replies “God would be something like a boyfriend. Buys me whatever I want and makes possible all my wishes.” She often involves herself with men who only use her for sex.

Akiyo: Works at an escort service “Heavan’s Gate” as a call girl. She saves her money in order to eventually buy a condo situated on the 5th floor or higher. Once she gets old & senile, she plans to jump out of her apartment to her death. She is infatuated with Kikuchi, an old school friend. Akiyo changes her appearance when around Kikuchi and conceals the fact that she is a call girl.

Toko: Works obsessively as an illustrator. She suffers from bulimia, a fact she conceals from her roommate, Chihiro.

"100 Tales of Horror" is the follow-up to "Onmyoji Abe no Seimei" in the Tuesday night "Super Jidaigeki" time slot. Computer graphics and special effects bring a new face to these stories of horror that have been told for many years.

A love story between a young man who has been forced to grow up too quickly, and a young woman with an ailment that has placed restrictions on her life. Natsuo has been looking after his younger brother and sister since the death of their parents. He has also been running the family bicycle shop. Yuki becomes the only person in the world in whom he can confide. For Yuki, Natsuo becomes the catalyst that has her trying to break out of her cocoon. -- KIKU-TV 

Hayakawa Ai (Hirosue Ryoko) commits a crime which lands her in a correction facility for juveniles. There she meets & becomes firm friends with four other delinquents & falls in love with one of the wardens, Ariake Yu (Mikami Hiroshi), an artist with secrets....