Asian Drama

~~ Adapted from the novel "Informa" (インフォーマ) by Okita Garyo (沖田臥竜).

Episodes: 8

Aired On: Thursday

Duration: 30 min.

Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

Kuriyama Koji is an entertainment reporter for the magazine Weekly Kindai. He is good at his job and keeps landing scoops. He feels like he is just providing stories that the world wants and uncovers truths closely held by celebrities. These celebrities usually fall from grace due to the gossip articles and they are ridiculed by the public. Thanks to Koji's scoops, sales of Weekly Kindai continue to rise, but he looks at the way the public consumes these stories for entertainment with cynicism. One day, he meets a mysterious woman who appears in a commercial for fashion brand Qros, and he gets involved in an unexpected incident. (Source: AsianWiki) ~~ Adapted from the novel "Qros no Onna" (Qrosの女) by Honda Tetsuya (誉田哲也).

Episodes: 10

Aired On: Sunday

Duration: 49 min.

Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

18 years ago, Aota and her boyfriend Obuchi murdered her parents and chopped up their bodies.

An editor is approached with a proposal for a novel based on the incident, and they soon uncover a shocking truth…

(Source: Drama-Otaku)

Adapted from the novel "Saka no Ue no Akai Yane" (坂の上の赤い屋根) by Mari Yukiko (真梨幸子).

Episodes: 5

Adapted from the manga series "Innai Keisatsu: Asclepius no Hebi" (院内警察～アスクレピオスの蛇～) written by Sakai Tsutomu (酒井義) and illustrated by Hayashi Ichi (林いち).

Episodes: 10

Duration: 58 min.

Episodes: 10

Mizushima Satoru is a designer, who prefers traditional things like handmade items and handwritten works. One day, he happens to meet a mysterious woman, Miharu Miyuki, at the cafe named Piano. She seems to have similar values to him and he is attracted to her. Mizushima Satoru asks for her cellphone number, but she doesn’t own a cellphone. They make a promise to meet at the cafe every Thursday. Since then, Mizushima Satoru & Miharu Miyuki meet every Thursday and their relationship develops romantically. Mizushima Satoru decides to propose her, but, on the day he is going to propose her, Miharu Miyuki doesn’t show up at the cafe.

(Source: AsianWiki)

Adapted from the novel "Analog" (アナログ) by Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし).

Duration: 2 hr. 0 min.

Content Rating: G - All Ages

Ratings: 8.2

Gota Nakaido is a detective based at the Minatomirai Police Station in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Prior to joining the police force, he spent 8 years working as a high school Physical Education (PE) teacher after graduating from university. His decision to become a detective stemmed from his determination to combat the negative influences that lead students astray.

Although Gota aspires to receive a promotion, he faces challenges due to his struggles with academic studies. However, his passion lies in apprehending criminals, and nothing brings him more joy than when victims express their gratitude for his efforts in catching wrongdoers.

Mishima Kanji is a reporter for the Weekly Times, which mainly deals with gossip. He feels a sense of emptiness and discomfort as he spends his days chasing celebrity scandals, without a shred of the journalistic spirit he aspired to. One day, Mishima goes to Amagasaki to pick up a certain person under the direction of chief editor Nagasawa Asuka. Nagasawa sends him off as a chance to fulfill Mishima's former wish to "see a world you wouldn't see if you lived a normal life", but what awaits him is Keijiro Kihara, a man who is now a renowned figure in all areas of the underworld, politics, and entertainment, as well as an urban legend among informers, known as "Informer".

Adapted from the novel "Informa" (インフォーマ) by Okita Garyo (沖田臥竜).

Shimura Takafumi is a detective, who works under an obsessive level belief that criminals must be punished. He will resort to any means to arrest criminals. Due to his excessive behavior, he has been demoted to a special investigation team that works on unsolved cases. He is ordered to work with Kiriko.

Kiriko is known as Invisible, the crime coordinator in the underworld. She mediates transactions for organized criminals. Kiriko flies under the radar of many and even only a few in the police department are aware of her existence. One day, Kiriko suddenly offers to help the police arrest criminals. She is willing to provide information on unsolved cases and violent criminals. Her only condition is that she wants to work with Shimura Takafumi.

Nakaido Gota is a detective at the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Station. Majima Shuhei is a prosecutor in the Yokohama District Prosecutors' Office in Kanagawa Prefecture. Gota is the kind of detective who tries to catch criminals as hard as he can and he wants to be thanked by the victims. Shuhei believes social justice is to gain convictions for criminals. These two men, who are righteous and enthusiastic about their jobs, face various cases and work together to solve them.

Mikoto is a 25-year-old man and has worked as an emergency medical technician for the past 3 years. Mikoto also has a special ability. When he touches a person with his hand, he can see the last moment of that person's life.

Mikoto's family consist of his stepmother and 3 stepsiblings. He lives with his 3 stepsiblings, including older stepsister Sara. She is 27-years-old. Even though Sara is Mikoto's stepsister, he loves her. With Mikoto's special ability, he learns that Sara only has 1 year left to live. Mikoto vows that he will do his best to make her happy.

Based on true story of the wife of Ando Momofuku, the businessman who founded Nissin Food Products Co. Ltd. and the inventor of instant ramen, the 99th Asadora follows the life of Tachibana Fukuko, a young woman who tries to survive tough times in Osaka with her husband from before WWII to the rapid economic development era. Together they overcome various setbacks before they succeed in creating instant noodles.

Tomo is a neglected 11-years-old girl. She lives with her mother, who abandons her when she falls in love with a new man. Whenever that happens, Tomo goes to live with her uncle, Makio. However, this time around, Makio is cohabitating with his girlfriend, Rinko, who is a transgender woman. The film portrays the drama that unfolds in an unconventional family and Tomo's acceptance of LGBT people.

Takada Yu is an employee of a development firm. His father has favored his high-achieving older brother and been indifferent to Yu since young. So Yu craves for his father’s love and wants his recognition somehow. Then one day, Yu encounters a woman. Although it was the worst possible meeting, he gradually starts to have romantic feelings for her through work and an unexpected development. But ironically enough, she turns out to be the girlfriend of his older brother. Yu begins to realize what he truly treasures and matures as a person as he struggles with this complicated romance and with his older brother and father.

Shima Yuka works as an OL at a large general trading company. Suddenly, she is transferred from her office to an aquarium that is affiliated with her company. She now works as a keeper at the aquarium and her senior is Kaji. Yuka Shima struggles with her new job and marine animals, but with her bright personality, she is able to grow as an aquarium keeper.

Tozai Teito EFG Bank is a mega bank centred on Teito Bank and created by the merger of Tozai Bank, EFG Bank and Teito Bank by the Financial Services Agency. Ever since the merger, those from Teito Bank have taken control and a hierarchy by former financial institution persists within the bank. In the middle of this, a shrewd dealer Katsura Mitsuyoshi has climbed to the position of the forex department’s managing director because his skills are appreciated even though he is not from Teito Bank. On the other hand, Nihei Shohei who comes from the general affairs department of Meikyo Bank, which is the precursor of EFG Bank and ranked lowest in the Tozai Teito EFG Bank, earnestly pushes ahead in his work without yielding to this hierarchy. One day, Tozai Teito EFG Bank is suddenly plunged into a bankruptcy crisis because of the purchase of ultra long-term government bonds in secret talks conducted between the top management of Tozai Teito EFG Bank and bureaucrats of the Financial Services Agency and a simultaneous crash in Japanese government bonds. Together with Nihei, Katsura fights against the foreign funds targeting to acquire Tozai Teito EFG Bank and scheming bureaucrats for the sake of the company’s survival. What will their future be? ~JDrama Weblog~

Osugi Ryota (Kagawa Teruyuki), a former detective of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division, resigned from the police because of some incident and now runs a private investigation agency. One day, a beautiful weather girl Koike Risa (Hayami Akari) visits Osugi with a request. She wants him to search for her younger twin sister Rina (Hayami Akari) who was supposed to have died 18 years ago. In the footage of a video that was anonymously put into Risa’s mailbox, Rina is seen to suddenly transform like a beast and attack a counselor in the room of a facility. Risa is convinced that her younger sister is still alive somewhere. And that she is also the criminal who killed her parents one year earlier … … After Risa’s parents were murdered by someone at the research lab of an abandoned university hospital, their hearts were gouged out. Osugi gets his partner, senior patrol officer Narumiya Keisuke (Ito Atsushi), involved. Narumiya starts examining whether anyone is living in Risa’s family home now as well as the scene where her parents were killed. The “ghost of the heart professor” is rumoured to appear at research lab. Narumiya finds something inside the dark, dilapidated place. Meanwhile, Osugi who is going through a divorce settlement with his wife Keiko (Horiuchi Keiko) over the custody of their daughter Megumi (Sugisaki Hana), is asked why he quit being a police officer without consulting his family. But he stubbornly keeps silent. What flashes in his mind are the memories of the case that led to his resignation. The gruesome serial murders by a criminal who is a copycat of Shingai Hiromi, that he pursued together with junior detective Mishima Akifumi (Kiritani Kenta) … …

Mashiro Moritaka ("Saiko"), with his superb drawing skill, is invited by his writing genius classmate Takagi Akito ("Shujin") to tread the difficult path of the mangaka. His sights are set on his naive yet earnest joint dream with Azuki Miho, who is aiming to become a voice actress. Saiko and Shujin team up as writer and artist, aiming to be serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, make a hit, and then release an anime. They bring their manuscripts into editors and set off on the road to becoming pro manga artists.

Adapted from the manga series "Bakuman." (バクマン。) written by Ohba Tsugumi (大場つぐみ) and illustrated by Obata Takeshi (小畑健).

Tokuzo Akiyama is a young man from a rural area who is married with a child along the way. One day, he eats a delicious breaded cutlet which inspires him to strive to become a chef, specializing in Parisian cuisine. He travels to Tokyo, then Paris, France to learn the culinary arts. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice, he becomes a chef at the Hotel Ritz in Paris. At the age of 26, he becomes the Emperor of Japan’s personal chef.

Takiya Genji and his newly formed gang, GPS, have successfully taken over Suzuran and overthrown their former leader, Serizawa. He soon realises however, that reaching the top is tough, but staying there is even tougher. Unity is fast deteriorating as inner turmoil begins to grow within the grounds and loyalty crumbles. Genji is soon beset by a malaise as he doubts his ability as a leader and fighter. Meanwhile, a certain rival school declares all-out war on Suzuran and this conflict will test Genji's ability to rise up to the challenge.

"Late blooming Sunflower –My life renewed-" is a story of 7 young adults living their ordinary days near the Shimanto river of Kochi prefecture, renowned as the last of the crystal clear streams. Somewhat nostalgic, somewhat new, they hold on to their dreams and insecurities. It's a true-to-life portrayal of the days in young adulthood. Kodaira Jotaro, the main character, played by Ikuta, is an easy going, slow starter who spends a rather relaxing time at a private college before graduating to work at a company as a contract employee. He leads a so-so life with moderate satisfaction and moderate uneasiness, like any other young man of the modern times. Later, his character and honest ways are acknowledged by the company and he is planned to become a full-time employee when suddenly things take a complete turn. He is not only laid off, but left behind by his girlfriend who he dated for over 7 years. Jotaro returns to his parents' home only to find that his brother was now the central part of the family, working for the government, the most dependable figure in the family. There is no room for him to fit in and feeling bewildered, he finds a website online that is recruiting volunteers for the revitalization of Shimanto city, Kochi prefecture. Without much thought, he desperately jumps at the opportunity and finds himself in the middle of Kochi, where nature is grand and time is of abundance. ~ Fuji TV

Twenty years ago Onodera Fuyuha went missing on a school trip. One day her former classmates Inoue Keiko, Akiyoshi Miya and Kawano Takako receive an email which is supposed to be from Onodera. With two other classmates Sabashima Yutaka and Higashihagi Koji they try to find out more. Before long, misfortune starts to befall the reunited classmates.

Personnel transfers take place at the metropolitan police department and Sakuragi Izumi is called upon by Nagashima Hideo who had been transferred to the special crime investigations prevention department. At the same time, the special investigations team members are transferred to other departments, each struggling to settle into their new environment. Izumi teams up with ace sergeant Takigawa a man with extensive knowledge and experience in the field. While Takigawa is not completely convinced about their partnership, he takes leadership and sternly instructs Izumi. One day, suspicious death accidents occur consecutively and the bereaved visit the jurisdiction to request a reinvestigation. Soon, it becomes apparent that each and every one of the accidents were caused by defected products from various corporations. Takamine Ryoko notices a certain pattern to the accidents and begins to suspect a chance of "corporate blackmail". Can the team solve the mystery in time to save the next victim? ~ Fuji TV

Mako Watsuji (Emi Takei) is from a rich family that surrounded her with an abundance of love. As a result, Mako Watsuji wants to build her life by herself. Satsuki Kurasawa (Emi Takei) doesn't have parents and suffers from loneliness. She lives in poverty and has a strong desire for love, money and power. One day, Mako Watsuji and Satsuki Kurasawa meet by chance and change each others lives. 

Based on the same-titled novel, the drama is set in the year 1964, the year the Olympics were held in Tokyo. A nation trying to rebuild its economy post world war II, Japan was eager to show the world what it had to offer. Amidst all the excitement and enthusiasm, two fires had broken out consecutively; at the private residence of the Chief of Police, Suga Shuichiro, and then at the Nakano Police Academy. However, both incidents were hushed up, and even Detective Ochiai Masao, from Division One MPD (Metropolitan Police Department) had to find out about it from his fellow colleague. Ochiai was puzzled as to why no investigations were being carried out and it soon came to light that prior to the first fire at the Chief's home, a threatening letter had been sent to the MPD. In view of the upcoming Olympics, everyone at the MPD were feeling jittery over the letter and the arson, and thus a team was set up to ensure the safety of the public during the event. Ochiai and his team mates were to carry out the investigation secretly. Information came to Ochiai, that some 25 tubes of dynamite were stolen from a gunpowder factory. While questioning the owner, Ochiai was introduced to Shimazaki Kunio, a poor student from Akita prefecture, attending Tokyo University and working part-time there. Suspecting him of the crime, Ochiai started digging around into Shimazaki's life and was surprised to find out that his own sister, Yumi, was actually dating Shimazaki!

Reiji Matsushima is a genius physicist. He realizes that he and his fiancé Asahi Ando will be killed a the theory which he advanced.

One day, in the year 2013, Reiji dies in a airplane explosion & crash. He was a handsome and world-famous professor who studied wormhole theories. It is a mystery whether his research on wormhole theory caused his death or not.

His fiance Asahi is a capable career woman working at a large IT company. She is beautiful and smart, but she met Reiji and fell in love with him. Her days with Reiji were happy, but one day he dies and somebody tries to kill her. Asahi doesn't know why someone wants to end her life.

Lloyd, who looks exactly like her dead fiance Reiji, suddenly appears in front of her. Lloyd came from the year 2113. His mission is to protect Asahi from any risky situations. Without Asahi's knowledge, Lloyd fights to protect her. Lloyd doesn't know what "love" is and doesn't understand human anger or sadness.

At first, Asahi doesn't like Lloyd, but slowly her feelings change. Lloyd also begins to develop feelings for her.

Asagi Serina is a housewife who loves her husband, Takefumi, to the extent that she would not mind being his shadow. However, his response to her excessive devotion is to attempt to avoid her “burdensome”, “gross” expression of love. With a wife's naivety, she refuses to suspect her husband of infidelity, and initially gets frustrated. One day, with the help of her good friend, Motoko (Ashina Sei), Serina goes out for a meal with the men at the publishing company where Motoko works. The moment a man in the group makes a move on her, it is captured on film by the sleuth, Jinnai Haruki (Kiritani Kenta). Not wanting her husband to see the photograph, Serina starts working at Jinnai's detective agency as an assistant. This ordinary, bumbling housewife grows stronger and improves her self-confidence through the skills she hones. Serina wants to support and help her husband instead of flaunting her new self to him because he is having a hard time. Aware of the problem that happened to her husband because of her over positivity, she sets about trying to solve it. ~ Jdrama Weblog

Maho Minami (Shiori Kutsuna) returns to Japan after studying in New York. Her half brother Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima) is an ultra talented guitarist. Maho & Ryosuke then meet Koyuki (Takeru Sato ), a fellow young teen whom Maho takes interest in. Soon enough, Ryosuke and Koyuki form a 5 piece rock band named "Beck," while Maho and Koyuki become involved in a romantic relationship.

The band starts to play live shows and grow an enthusiastic following. The release of their debut CD helps to further the band's popularity. People start to notice Koyuki. The band then endures a producer's planned conspiracy and other hardships. Beck then receives an offer to play at a rock festival, but with the unusual stipulation that the band may have to dissolve ...

45-year-old nurse and mother Yoko lives with her only daughter Tsukiko. The duo has a tight relationship that resembles more best friends rather than mother & daughter. Tsukiko's father passed away before she was born & since that time Yoko has always stated Tsukiko's father would be the first and last man she will marry.

One evening, Yoko, who is drunk, brings home 30 year old Kenji Hattori and they both sleep outside on the porch. The next morning, Tsukiko becomes confused by the situation and becomes even confused when her mother announces that she will marry the much younger Kenji Hattori.

While working at a seaside inn with his high school buddies, Fujishiro Koji meets Kaoru Amane, a street musician. Kaoru is suffering from an incurable disease called XP (xeroderma pigmentosum), and can’t be exposed to the sun.

Under the sun, the two would never have met. Still, destiny brings the two together. Since the day he suddenly lost his job, Koji has lost sight of his dreams. But when he meets Kaoru, who is making positive efforts to become a singer, Koji regains his long-forgotten passion for music.

Kurosaki is a young man whose family was destroyed by swindlers. He gows up and become a swindler himself, known as Kurosagi. He swindles other con artists and returns the money to the original victim. He works with the master swindler Katsuragi Toshio even though Toshio had a hand in the destruction of Kurosaki's family.

He's life begins to change when he meets Yoshikawa Tsurara, a young law student who disapproves of his disrespect of the law.