Asian Drama

Adapted from the novel "He, Who is Beautiful" (美しい彼) by Nagira Yuu (凪良 ゆう).

Having overcome the obstacles that stood between them in high school, Kazunari Hira and Sou Kiyoi have spent the past few years in relative bliss. Living together, they’ve been able to support each other as they learn to navigate the ups and downs of their adult life. But just because life has gotten better, doesn’t mean everything for the happy couple is perfect.

Currently, in his fourth year of college, Kazunari has spent the majority of his free time following Sou around in disguise. While Kazunari enjoys watching his boyfriend from afar, it has recently begun to dawn on him that with graduation looming, he might need to turn his attention elsewhere. With no part-time job experience whatsoever, Kazunari is starting to see that his favorite pastime may be doing him a disservice. A fact that only becomes more apparent as his classmates, with their impressive array of work experience, begin to turn their attention toward post-graduation job hunting. Feeling a bit left behind, Kazunari begins to wonder what it is he wants to do with his life.

While Kazunari struggles at school, Sou continues to work hard in his acting career. As both Sou and Kazunari learn to deal with some of life’s more harsh realities, will their relationship stand strong, or will they find their bond beginning to crack under the pressures that come with adulthood?

Adapted from the novel "He, Who is Beautiful" (美しい彼) by Nagira Yuu (凪良 ゆう).

“Try stopping my murders with words.” This is the line in a letter delivered to Ippongi Toru, a roving reporter for Taiyo Shimbun’s local news desk, and the random serial murders which have shaken the Tokyo metropolitan area are described in detail. The criminal designates Ippongi and demands a public debate in the newspapers. Using a journalist’s power of words, Ippongi goes head to head with the criminal who warns of another murder. The unprecedented dialogue between the serial killer and newspaper reporter eventually rocks society.

Iruma Michio is a devil-may-care, unorthodox criminal judge at the Tokyo District Court’s first criminal court. He used to be a lawyer and was deeply involved in a past case that was behind his transformation into a judge. Iruma personally inspects crime scenes to prevent a miscarriage of justice and bring the truth to light. Although his demeanour is far from the image of a stuff judge, he is feared by lawyers as well as prosecutors because he is not bound by obligations, prejudices and preconceptions and has an inquiring mind that probes cases thoroughly. On the other hand, the judge Sakama Chizuru is the complete opposite of Iruma. A graduate of Tokyo University’s Faculty of Law, she is an elite among elites. She has been transferred to the first criminal court to reform it due to the unbelievably small number of cases that are closed. This is the equivalent of a company in the red to the extent of going bankrupt. As someone who takes great pride in maintaining public order by handling cases accurately and promptly, Chizuru cannot understand Iruma’s style which frustrates her to no end. However, when she realises that Iruma believes in treating a case as an individual’s life, she is faced with the question, “What can a judge do aside from issuing a ruling?”

Shibusawa Eiichi was born in 1840 to a farmer’s family. He grew up helping his family with work, which was to manufacture and sell indigo production and also silk farming. He left his hometown at the age of 23 and began working for the government. He later traveled to Paris and learned about banking. Upon his return to Japan, he helped build up the first modern bank in Japan. He eventually became a founder or supporter to about 500 companies and was involved with about 600 public services, including education for women.

Mamiya Hibiki is a sincere young man with a bright personality. He works as a car mechanic and lives with his girlfriend Ogasawara Kurumi. They have dated since they were high school students. Hibiki makes a plan to propose to Kurumi. On the day he will propose to his girlfriend, he slides off a tunnel and becomes trapped. 4 days later, he is able to escape, but he faces a different world. There are no people outside, the traffic system is destroyed, and there are bloodstains on the streets. What happened to the world? Hibiki tries to find Kurumi.

On Christmas Eve, a TV broadcasting station receives a phone call. The caller warns "I have set up a bomb at Ebisu in Tokyo." A contract worker for the TV broadcasting station and a housewife are accused by the Ebisu police as being the culprits. During this chaotic situation, a mysterious man silently watches as everything unfolds. A video clip is then uploaded to an online video website. The video contains a demand to talk with the Prime Minister during a live broadcast or a bomb will be detonated at 6 pm in Shibuya, Tokyo. Who is behind the bombings and who will stop them?

The Mobile Investigative Unit (known as "MIU") of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department attempts to solve cases within 24 hours.

Detective Shima Kazumi is selected as a new member of MIU. He is intelligent, with excellent observation and communication skills. Yet, he does not trust other people. He is unable to find a partner in MIU and is ordered to partner with Police Officer Ibuki Ai, who works at a police substation. Ibuki applied for MIU, but he failed. He is in excellent physical condition, but he lacks knowledge and experience as a detective. Shima learns about Ibuki's background and he becomes more nervous. Finally, Shima has his first meeting with Ibuki.

Tokino Mitani runs a watch shop, located on a street far from the downtown area. She is 20-years-old and inherited the watch shop from her grandfather. Unknown to most, she is also an excellent private detective and offers an alibi cracking service. She can crack someone's false alibi by using logic based on time and a watch. She gets payed 5,000 yen for that service.

Yoshiyuki Saji used to be an elite police officer, but he tried to uncover corruption within the police department. This caused Yoshiyuki Saji to receive a demotion to a police station in a rural city. He moves alone there, leaving behind his wife and child. He lives at a boarding house, where Tokino Mitani lives. Yoshiyuki Saji does not get along with the other detectives there. He struggles to solve a case and he hears about Tokino Mitani's ability as an alibi cracker. He doesn't want to ask for her help, because of his pride as a police officer, but he requests her help on a case.

A gathering of the top brass of the prefectural police headquarters, dubbed “Entaku Kaigi” or roundtable conference, is held in a special private room at Tamayoshien, the most exclusive Chinese restaurant in W Prefecture. One woman is summoned to this tremendously powerful roundtable, which is the highest decision-making body. She is an inspector called Matsunaga Nahoko. Nahoko pushes herself every day with the intention of becoming a member of this roundtable in order to pave the way for female police officers in the prefectural police which remains chauvinistic and old-fashioned. Her job is a position that can be called “police among the police” and she exposes mistakes and the truth about cases to clean up issues before they become detrimental to the prefectural police. She holds her own with female police officers in the various police precincts, making full use of her powers of observation and insight. However, none of them are easy women. Even so, Nahoko is broad-minded enough to be tolerant with an eye toward joining the Entaku Kaigi. But each woman seems to have some sort of secret…

Story takes place over a 24 hour period.

In the southernmost part of Japan, 20 fishing boats of an unknown nationality suddenly fire upon and occupy parts of the Hateruma archipelago. Members of the Japan Coast Guard are detained. Under the extremely tense situation, the Japanese government sends Aircraft Carrier Ibuki and an escort fleet to the area. Ryota Akitsu (Hidetoshi Nishijima) is the captain of the Aircraft Carrier Ibuki and Toshiya Niinami (Kuranosuke Sasaki) is second-in-command. It is now 6:23 am. and Japan faces one day which they never have before.

Higashiyama Yui works as a director at Net Heroes, a web production company. Due to her workaholic father and bad experiences in the past, she loathes working overtime. Even 2 years ago, she broke off her engagement to Taneda Kotaro because he was a workaholic. At her job, Higashiyama Yui always leaves at the end of the regular working day and never works overtime. She tries to be efficient as possible and productive during her normal working hours. After she leaves her office, Higashiyama Yui normally drinks beer at her regular Chinese restaurant. Her peaceful days begin to change after a new department head arrives at work.

Higashiyama Yui works as a director at Net Heroes, a web production company. Due to her workaholic father and bad experiences in the past, she loathes working overtime. Even 2 years ago, she broke off her engagement to Taneda Kotaro because he was a workaholic. At her job, Higashiyama Yui always leaves at the end of the regular working day and never works overtime. She tries to be efficient as possible and productive during her normal working hours. After she leaves her office, Higashiyama Yui normally drinks beer at her regular Chinese restaurant. Her peaceful days begin to change after a new department head arrives at work.

Yuri Ishikawa and her team try to crack unresolved cold cases in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

30-year-old Shinkai Akira always smiles and she is perfect at work. She cares about those around her too much. 33-year-old Nemoto Kosei works as an accountant. He is friendly and popular among women. Nevertheless, he doesn't trust anyone and he does not fall in love easily. Akira and Kosei meet at a bar and become attracted to each other.

Beppu Sumire (Imoto Ayako) is a wedding planner who works for True Love Bridal (TLB), a well-established wedding hall. Her late mother, Sakura (Okunuki Kaoru), showered love on her and would always tell her that she is lovely. After she passed away, Sumire lived with her father, Tetsuro (Kusakari Masao). Sumire gave up on her own romance long ago because of her disappointing looks. But she works hard with a smile even when she gets scolded by her stern superior, Umemiya Hitomi (Tomosaka Rie), her impertinent junior, Sudo Yuri (Shinkawa Yua), pins trouble on her, and her relationship with her father is not working out, in order to bring smiles to many people’s faces. One day, the very good-looking Tachibana Soichiro (Shirota Yu) assumes the position of TLB’s new president. Sumire becomes his mentor. She is rapidly attracted to him because of his boundless kindness. However, Soichiro, who is the son of the owner of TLB Group, appears to have mixed feelings about marriage and love … … Meanwhile, a couple, Suzuki Yusuke (Wada Masato) and Sato Kanna (Sasaki Nozomi), visits TLB. Sumire tries to serve them. However, as soon as Kanna sees Sumire’s face, she starts to talk about wanting to change the person in charge. Even after that, she stubbornly refuses to have contact with Sumire. Sumire agonises about her face being the reason. Then she recalls that Kanna share the same first and names as her best friend in high school. However, the Kanna in the photo which Sumire still carries about with her, has no resemblance to the Kanna now. Could Kanna have had plastic surgery … …?! Sumire, who cannot give up a reunion with her good friend whom she even dreams about, hits out at Kanna. As a result, Sumire is put in charge of Kanna’s ceremony, but will she be able to guide Kanna to a happy wedding?

Fuki who lives with her grandfather Shoei in Taketomi Island, Okinawa, dreams of becoming a photographer. In her childhood, her mother Masami left Fuki to live in Tokyo. Although Masami has not come back, Fuki receives birthday cards from Masami every year on her birthday. On Fuki's fourteenth birthday, Masami promises to confess everything when Fuki becomes 20 years old. After her graduation from high school, Fuki moves to Tokyo to work as a camera assistant. Fuki starts off her hectic life in Tokyo, and soon, her nineteenth birthday comes. As usual, she receives a birthday card from Masami. A year later... Uploader's Comments: If you're looking for a relaxing film, this might be you're looking for. I just wish they'd toned down the dorama shenanigans that really spoils the later part, at least for me. But Yu is, as always, sweeter than sugar and could probably melt all the ice of Antarctica if she wanted to. So that lessens the blow considerably. Many thanks to Stythe for once again being the hero we need but perhaps doesn't quite deserve... closedeyes.gif

Ishibashi Naoto is a successful reporter who has just gotten married to his girlfriend, Saki, whom he met one month earlier. However, as Naoto begins to live a new life as a married man, strange things start to happen. Saki disappears without a trace and as Naoto begins searching for her, he finds out Saki's identity doesn't exist. When Naoto starts to dig deeper into the mystery, he begins to receive anonymous threats. Frustrated, Naoto meets a Yoshino Mariko, detective who thinks she might hold the answers to Naoto's questions.

Based on the same-titled manga, this drama is set in the town of Minatocho.

Baba Hospital, the local clinic in a small port town, is closed for business. The clinic’s director Baba Kohei suddenly died and his only daughter Asuka, a nurse of one year, has been desperately searching around for a doctor to be his successor. Then Tsuruta Masayoshi, nicknamed Jumbo, suddenly shows up at Baba Hospital with an emergency patient in tow. He used to work with Asuka’s father at the hospital but left town because of some trouble 12 years ago. Although he saves the patient with admirable skill, he is not the fine young man he used to be but has transformed into a greedy, brutish and arrogant person. Furthermore, he is here with Baba’s IOU for the 100 million yen he loaned as well as deed to the land and property. To Asuka’s shock, Jumbo declares that the clinic is now his, and settles into the position of clinic director on this pretext. Asuka, who adored him in the past, is stunned by the complete change in his behaviour now that they are reunited after 12 years as well as resents his high-handedness. Although they are at odds with each other, Asuka gradually sees with her own eyes that Jumbo is a genuine doctor who not only considers a patient’s position more than anyone else, but also diagnoses difficult-to-treat illnesses that other doctors do not notice. Howevever, what is his true motive for coming back to this town?

Adapted from the manga series "Machiisha Jumbo!!" (町医者ジャンボ!!) by Koshino Ryou (こしのりょう).

The basis for the drama is the novel "Kashikogi" by author Cho Chang-in, which has sold 2 million copies in Korea since its publication in 2000. It has already been adapted as a television drama and a stage play in that country. On February 4, Shogakukan is publishing the book in Japan under the title "Good Life" Sorimachi plays the part of Daichi Sawamoto, a newspaper reporter who has always prioritized his work over his family. When his wife suddenly leaves him, he finally notices the love he has been receiving from his son. Just as he decides to answer back, it is discovered that his son has leukemia. Igawa plays Sawamoto's wife, Eikura plays a pediatrics specialist, and Ihara plays a doctor.

Sae is a high school student who is studying hard for her college entrance exams. She lost her father when she was very young and so lives her mother Ryoko in Hokkaido, Japan. Her father Kemimichi once planted a dogwood tree in their garden after he found out he had a terminal disease and could not watch Sae grow up. She hopes to enter a university in Tokyo.

She then meets Kouhei, who attends a specialized high school teaching fishery. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a fisherman. These two young people meet and have a long distance relationship. Although their love is strong it does not last.

10 years later these two people have a miracle.

Middle school teacher Moriguchi Yoko's life comes crashing down after the murder of her 4-year-old daughter. Eventually, Yoko suspects some of her own students to have been responsible for her daughter's death. She comes up with an elaborate plan for revenge against the students who killed her innocent daughter

Middle school teacher Moriguchi Yoko's life comes crashing down after the murder of her 4-year-old daughter. Eventually, Yoko suspects some of her own students to have been responsible for her daughter's death. She comes up with an elaborate plan for revenge against the students who killed her innocent daughter.

Inspector Sugishita Ukyo, head of the Special Missions Division, returns from London and goes home in the sports car of Assistant Inspector Kanbe Takeru, who has come to meet him at Narita Airport even though Ukyo did not ask him to. However, on the way home, Ukyo notices police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department conducting a crackdown outside the agency’s jurisdiction in Chiba Prefecture and gets suspicious. The police officers that Ukyo had seen were riding motorcycles. He lies in wait in a street with a dead end, but the motorcycle police have vanished into thin air. Ukyo is mystified and begins a thorough investigation. The Head of the National Police Agency’s Secretariat, Onoda Koken, appears before Ukyo, who has a bad feeling about what is going on. He tells Ukyo that Honda Atsuto, a revolutionist and senior leader of the leftist radicals “Red Canary”, has secretly returned to Japan.