Asian Drama

The 63rd work of NHK Taiga Drama depicts the life of Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese female poet who wrote "Tale of Hikaru Genji". This story is set in the mid-Heian period.

(Source: nhk.or.jp)

Episodes: 40

Yusuke Urameshi was a tough teen delinquent until one selfless act changed his life...by ending it. When he died saving a little kid from a speeding car, the afterlife didn't know what to do with him, so it gave him a second chance at life. Now, Yusuke is a ghost with a mission, performing good deeds at the behest of Botan, the ferrywoman of the River Styx, and Koenma, the pacifier-sucking judge of the dead.

(Source: Viz Media)

Adapted from the manga series "Yu Yu Hakusho" (幽☆遊☆白書) by Togashi Yoshihiro (冨樫義博).

Episodes: 5

Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older

Watanabe Tatsuya, the falsely accused newspaper reporter decides to run for State Governor to change Tokyo. The Democratic Liberal Party Headquarters, which wants to clear its name in the next gubernatorial election, recommends political commentator Kawamoto Eita as an official candidate.

Meanwhile, Saki, the daughter of Ujihara Takumi, the president of Hamashio Construction, a major general contractor, is kidnapped. The culprit's request is to cancel the land reclamation project in Tokyo Bay, which is being promoted by Hamashio Construction under the leadership of Suzuki Ichiro, the secretary-general of the Democratic Liberal Party. Kenichi becomes a negotiator with the criminal, in order to make a hostage exchange to save Saki. Who is the culprit of the kidnapping case and what is its purpose?

(Source: DramaOtaku)

Episodes: 5

Kuno Totono is a college student with naturally curly hair. He is extremely smart and loves curry, but doesn't have any friends or a girlfriend. Kuno Totono loves to talk and he can often solve difficult problems simply by talking it through. One day, Kuno Totono visits the city of Hiroshima. There, he gets involved with a mystery involving the succession of the Kariatsumari family’s property.

(Source: AsianWiki)

Adapted from the manga "Mystery to Iunakare" (ミステリと言う勿れ) by Tamura Yumi (田村由美).

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Episodes: 5

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Episodes: 5

Karasawa Toshiaki stars as Shitara Kyoichi, a mysterious fixer who can resolve any disputes and problems in the political and corporate world which the law and the police cannot handle. The story begins from the point when Kyoichi has finished serving his prison sentence.

One night, a car carrying the prime minister is involved in an accident, falling off a cliff. The deceased driver is suspected of drunk driving….. Furthermore, suspicion begins to mount that there is a connection to a secret scandal surrounding the approval of a new drug. Meanwhile, a man approaches the prime minister’s secretary, who is busy dealing with the accident. His name is Shitara Kyoichi, also known as the “fixer”. Kyoichi had covered up the PM’s misconduct in the past and had talked with the PM on the phone just before the accident. Was this an accident or was this a set-up in the political world? The prime minister, who has not regained consciousness, is forced to resign and an election for a new leader begins. Kyoichi then takes on the role of kingsmaker with the ruling party’s presidential candidates.

Yamihara Kokoro and Asada Toramatsu live in a town that is quite peaceful, until a serial murder case happened where the bodies all had their blood drained out. Five years have passed but the case remains unsolved. Meanwhile, Kokoro and Toramatsu have been in a relationship for a year, but are unable to get married as they are keeping a serious secret from each other. Kokoro is actually a vampire. However, she does not attack humans and live modestly. Toramatsu is a popular resident in the town and is trusted by many. After getting a divorce, Toramatsu got drunk and went back to his old house, where he met Kokoro, the current occupant. As the two continue to keep their secrets hidden, a horrific murder occurs once again in the town.

Gohara Aura, a scout for the Yokohama Bay Golds, is caustic and self righteous but generally regarded as a hotshot. He flies around the country in search of hidden talent to pick the Draft King – the no. 1 among the players chosen for this year’s draft. Kamiki Ryosuke, a former professional player who is now a rookie scout, and the members of the scout division led by the empathetic Shimobe Rikuo engage in a heated discussion with Gohara in their effort to strengthen the team. Gohara’s arch-enemy Busujima Ryuji, a veteran scout for the Osaka White Tigers who would do anything to accomplish his goals, is also fired up to secure talented players and makes a secret move. Can Gohara and his colleagues find a diamond in the rough and pick the Draft King?

Adapted from the manga series "Draft King" (ドラフトキング) by Kuromatsu Tetsuro (クロマツテツロウ).

The drama depicts the exploits of the “Ichigeki Hishikkitai”, a special combat unit formed by farmers to deal with the "Imperial Robbers" and the "Imperial Thieves" of the Satsuma Clan who were causing a stir in Edo at the end of the Edo period.

Adapted from the manga series “Ichigeki” (いちげき) by Matsumoto Jiro (松本次郎).

During his high school days, Kokusho Hiroshi was the rugby club’s ace who attracted national attention. However, he sustained injuries owing to his self-centered and aggressive style of playing. He was criticized by his teammates and remained isolated until he stepped aside. After graduating from high school, he lived a carefree life without a regular job. Then one day, he has a brush with the law because of a fight that gets him sacked from his job at a construction site and evicted from the apartment that he had been living in for falling behind on the payment of his rent. Hiroshi is at his wits end when a man calls out that he will introduce the perfect job that comes with a fully equipped dorm and three meals a day for someone like him who is proud of his physical strength. It is to work for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force which defends the country’s peace and security. “With a name like that, weren’t you born to become a member of the Self-Defense Force?” Hiroshi initially refuses but makes a half-hearted decision to become a trainee. Despite the grueling training, this turns out to be his true calling.

The film will continue the story from the drama of the same name.

How will Adachi and Kurosawa deal with their relationship now that Adachi received an order to be transferred ?

Adapted from the manga series “30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii" (30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい) by Toyota Yuu (豊田悠).

Hyoga Mamoru is the CEO of Three Star Books. She was born into a wealthy family and has never experienced money problems. While she is successful with her job, she is lonely and holds sadness over the deaths of her parents when she was a child. Hyoga Mamoru has close friend Ichinose Ryo. He is the only one who she can talk to about anything. Hyoga Mamoru also started Three Star Books with Ichinose Ryo and they still work together. Meanwhile, Hyoga Mamoru gets involved with Haruno Yu, who is much younger than her.

Haruno Yu is a vocational school student. He has a loving family, that includes his parents and a younger sister. His parents financial situation is not very good though. While studying, he works part-time to support himself. He then applies for an intern job at Three Star Books.

Kasai Riko comes to Tokyo to meet someone new after her engagement is broken off by her ex. The story follows 4 men and women who all had to lie for some reason. To play the game of love, they tell lies, deceive and are deceived.

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.

It's complicated: A thirty-year-old virgin gets more than he bargained for when his newfound magical power reveals he's the object of his male coworker's affections! Adachi, a thirty-year-old virgin, discovers he has the magical power to read the minds of people he touches. Unfortunately, the ability just makes him miserable since he doesn't know how to use it well! And to make matters worse, when he accidentally reads the mind of his very competent, handsome colleague, Adachi discovers the guy has a raging crush on none other than Adachi himself! Things are about to get VERY awkward!

Amamiya, Nakauchi, and Kobayashi were once high school classmates. The former was class president and an honors student, Nakauchi was quiet and reserved with a penchant for cooking, and Kobayashi was a womanizing charmer. Ten years after their graduation, fate reunites them. Nakauchi has gone on to become a budding chef, but he had to quit his job after losing his sense of taste. He runs into Amamiya, works as a bartender in a quiet establishment called the Three Star Bar in Tokyo’s Nishi Ogikubo District.

Kobayashi who became an overnight sensation as a writer with his debut novel, but has been in a slump ever since, was bequeathed the bar from his grandfather, the previous owner, with the agreement that he would keep the place running until he and Amamiya finished all of the canned food that was left stocked in the pantry. Kobayashi and Amamiya convince Nakauchi to join them as their canned food “chef.”

The trio is a great success: Amamiya is always ready to lift the mood with a cocktail, the barfly-like Kobayashi is always on hand with sage words of advice, and Nakauchi cooks up a storm in the kitchen. The place becomes a hit with appreciative customers who come with problems, but usually leave with them solved, thanks to these remarkable men. But what will happen when the canned food begins to run out?

Adapted from the manga series "Nishiogikubo Mitsuboshi Youshudou" (西荻窪 三ツ星洋酒堂) by Asai Sai (浅井西).

Spin-off of 30sai made Dotei dato Mahotsukai ni Narerurashii. Adachi and Kurosawa's first Valentine's Day and Adachi receives a box of chocolate… Kurosawa has a rival? Rokkaku seems to know there's something between Adachi and Kurosawa… the relationship will be exposed?

Arisu—a listless, jobless and video-game-obsessed young man—suddenly finds himself in a strange, emptied-out version of Tokyo in which he and his friends must compete in dangerous games in order to survive. In this strange world, Arisu meets Usagi, a young woman who’s navigating the games alone. Together, they set out to unravel one mystery after another as they risk their lives and confront what it means to live.

(Source: Netflix)

Adapted from the manga series "Imawa no Kuni no Alice" by Haro Aso.

Episodes: 8

Duration: 48 min.

Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)

Aired On: Thursday

Arisu—a listless, jobless and video-game-obsessed young man—suddenly finds himself in a strange, emptied-out version of Tokyo in which he and his friends must compete in dangerous games in order to survive. In this strange world, Arisu meets Usagi, a young woman who’s navigating the games alone. Together, they set out to unravel one mystery after another as they risk their lives and confront what it means to live.

(Source: Netflix)

Adapted from the manga series "Imawa no Kuni no Alice" by Haro Aso.

Episodes: 8

Duration: 48 min.

Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)

Aired On: Thursday

Kaori lost her eyesight and family in an accident. While trying to enjoy the small things in her life, Kaori struggles to live happily. Kaori mistakes Rui for someone else and begins to talk to him. Rui was once a promising kickboxer, but something happened in his past to cause him to disassociate himself from everyone. Kaori's smile brings out a change in Rui. The two people begin to have feelings for each other, but Rui learns about Kaori's past accident and his connection. Rui decides to take part in an underground fight to pay for Kaori's eye surgery.

1940, Kawamoto Akiko lives in Hiroshima with her father and mother, Genkichi and Shizuko, as well as her two younger brothers. Akiko loves playing her favorite piano. As the war situation worsens, she is busy helping out the war efforts. On the morning of August 6, 1945, she disobeys her father and heads into the center of town for work. In Hiroshima 75 years later, her favorite piano remains, restored and playable following it's survival of the atomic bombing.

Sayaka Ogino works as an editor at a women's fashion magazine. She does her job well and enjoys her work. Sayaka Ogino has a personality that is sincere and honest. She is married to Kazuma, who works at advertising agency. They have been married for 6 years. Kazuma appears to be a perfect husband. He is kind, understands Sayaka's work, and shares housework with her. One thing that bothers Sayaka about her husband is that he does not seem to want to have a baby.

Somehow, Sayaka Ogino gets betrayed by people she trusts. She then meets her first love Keiichi Akiyama from her high school days.

Starts off where the drama left off.

Shintaro, now a Noble Dolly of the new club called Club Noble, decides to take over St. Brilliant Academy and battles against the prince group, who are led by Kanade Suzaku, over the title "Legend".

Tanaka Nozomu is one of the three high school students. People call her "Baka" ("Idiot"). She isn't timid and she can't read between the lines. Her friends are Kikuchi Akane and Saginomiya Shiori . Akane enjoys anime and manga. Shiori is extremely smart, but her emotions have dried up. These three girls are also classmates. Their homeroom teacher is Sawatari Masataka.

A school has a competition every three years in which they pick a 'Prince of Legend'. 14 males students, including Kanade Suzaku, take part in the competition this year.

Aoi Nishimori and Shusei Kugayama are in love and they begin to live together secretly. Suddenly, Shusei's cousin Reon Kugayama comes to them. Their secret is discovered by Reon. Now, Aoi, Shusei and Reon begin to live together.

Tatsuya Nikaido is a middle-aged divorcee who runs an agricultural company and lives in a suburb with his daughter and mother. After his only son's death, he has been pressured by his fate to save his family name and ancestral line as a only male in the family. Tatsuya's daughter Yuko can't help feeling responsible for her family's survival despite her resistance against the traditional mind. The only options left to them to save their family name is either that Tatsuya remarry and have a son, or Yuko marry a man who can take her family's surname as a mukoyoshi (adopted son-in-law) of her father. But they both in love with someone who is not suited for the condition. Tatsuya and Yuko struggle caught in the dilemma between their family obligation and love. Meanwhile, despaired Tatsuya's sickly mother indirectly takes actions for the family survival, which causes increasing tensions around Tatsuya and Yuko.

Shirato Takamasa is a detective at the Investigation Cooperation Section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. His job is to catch wanted criminals by only relying on their faces. One day, he sees Sunami's face who was a senior detective, but had a mysterious death 4 years ago.

Hiyama Atsuhiro is a car mechanic and an engineer at Supika Racing Factory. Hiyama Naozumi is a troublemaker yet a talented young driver for Supika Racing Factory, who hopes to advance to the World Rally Championship. He is also Atsuhiro's younger brother. The sibling always fights about Naozumi reckless driving and an awful mood was beginning to drift to the team as well. One day, Hikaru Endo become Naozumi's agent, however, she is clueless about the world of car racing.

This is a love story between Akira Kuroiwa, a 15-year-old boy who knows nothing of love, and Hijiri Suenaga, his new 25-year-old homeroom teacher. One fated summer, Akira begins to realize he has feelings for Hijiri, but Hijiri has a long distance fiancee. The story follows the pair over the course of several years.

Suzaku Kanade is the scion of the Suzaku Group who is a bilingual "straight A" student with good looks and great athletic abilities. He is deemed a "celebrity prince" with graceful manners. One day, through his father's introduction, Kanade meets "bad boy prince" Kyogoku Takato who is a charismatic figure among the bad boys in the downtown area.

Kanade and Takato who live in completely different worlds and have totally opposite personality start to compete for an "important thing".

However, Takato's little brother Kyogoku Ryu, student-union president prince Ayanokoji Aoi, dance prince Red - Tendo Koki, teacher prince Yuki Riichi, and beautician prince Sagasawa Haru also join the competition...

Working at a bank, Tetsuo Kashimura (Toru Nakamura) enjoys a smooth life. Things change when the bank he works for merges with another bank. His life becomes more difficult. His colleagues resign from work and Tetsuo Kashimura also quits his job. While looking for a new job, he meets Tomoya Yamamoto (Ryohei Otani) the CEO of an investment company. Tomoya Yamamoto talks to him about restoring a restaurant franchise company.

iki Ogawa (Jun Shison) yearned to live the life of a lovely girl and moved to the city from the countryside because of this. She holds a job at a fashion mail order company. Miki Ogawa also has a secret. She is transgender. Although, she has a pretty woman's appearance, her gender is male. One day, Tadaomi Goto (Keita Machida) appears in front of Miki Ogawa. They graduated from the same school. Tadaomi Goto is flustered by Miki's different appearance, but they happen to live together.

Saigo Takamori, the hero of the Meiji Restoration, was born to a poor, low-ranking samurai family in the Satsuma domain (present day Kagoshima Prefecture). His simple honesty caught the attention of its charismatic feudal lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira. Nariakira’s assertion that the love of people is what will enrich and strengthen the nation captivated Saigo who took on Nariakira’s secret mission and eventually became a key person for Satsuma. Not a portrait of him survives today and much of his life is a mystery. He is a man who was twice exiled and thrice married. He overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate with exceptional bravery and action. Although he accomplished the restoration, he lost his life in a fight with the new Meiji government.

Based on the novel "Sego Don" by Hayashi Mariko.

Interior designer Mako is unable to forget her first love from childhood, who helped her when she was bullied back in elementary school days. One day, a letter arrives from someone named Kosuke—the same name as the boy Mako can't forget. It says, "Do you remember me? Please contact me, because I want to see you after all this time." It's been 22 years since she last saw her friend, but Mako is excited to see him again. But the "Kosuke" who shows up to meet her is far from the man she imagined.

Ogikubo, Hachimanyama, Chitose Funabashi, Futako Tamagawa, Kaminoge, and Denen Choufu... Loop line 8 travels along these six towns. Despite the short distance, it is necessary to change trains and take a circuitous route. There are women living in each of these towns who waver over love that has not turned out as they wish such as one-sided love, domestic violence, and affairs. Like “neighbors” who have to go a long way around, their relationships are loosely connected. They are somehow only able to see each other’s appearances maybe because of the nature of these relationships and then wonder why things are not going well for them personally. They worry and compare with others but still wish to look ahead.

Adapted from the 2015 novel "Kanjou 8-go Sen" by Hatano.

The movie is set in an aftermath of the sudden dispersal of a legendary town called "Mugen," and recounts the story of the five organizations, who aims to take control in the said area. These five organizations are known as Sanno Association, White Rascals, Rude Boys, Oya High School and Daruma Hooligans.

The five gangs will put their pride on the line as all of them take part in a fierce battle for dominance. However, the plot takes a surprising twist when a mysterious group called "Mighty Warriors" suddenly appears.

Sawatari Ichiko was supposed to be a high-powered career woman working for the planning department of IT company, Madarame Corporation. But one day, she is suddenly ordered by her company president, Madarame Haruhiko, to go over to Hinode Pro, an entertainment production company that Madarame Corporation has entered into a venture with. This gives Ichiko, an impulsive, arrogant woman who is good at her job, but does not understand people’s feelings, a shock. When she visits Hinode Pro, she discovers that it is a small entertainment production company run by a man called Namiki Masao. Ichiko is alarmed by the dispirited, struggling one-hit singer and third-rate talents. She goes back to Madarame Corporation to protest against her secondment, and offers to quit after Madarame discloses that this is a demotion. However, Ichiko takes the first step toward becoming an artiste manager, which was something she had never expected, on condition that she be reinstated to a core department at Madarame Corporation if she succeeds in turning a declining Hinode Pro around. Believing that she has to find a newcomer in order to rebuild Hinode Pro, she scouts the handsome but rude Sakisaka Ryo who works as a traffic warden at a construction site. Ichiko makes every effort to groom him to be a star. At the first audition, she is disappointed by Ryo who shows no enthusiasm. However, she gives him a taste of being an extra at the Namiki’s suggestion. Ryo becomes conscious of the joy of acting and wins his first role with a line in a drama starring the great actress, Nakazato Reiko. Although Ryo is hostile to Ichiko, he soon rises to become a star and Ichiko learns for the first time the joy of making people feel happy. The two of them keep having conflicts, but are aware that each person is an indispensable partner to the other. Ichiko and Ryo overcome all sorts of trials and set their sights to be the best in the entertainment world. They gradually become “comrades in arms” and start to be drawn to each other.

Born to a poor family in Yamanashi prefecture, in the year of 1903 at the age of 10, Muraoka Hanako was accepted by a Missionary school in Tokyo. It was her father's Ando Kippei, greatest wish that his daughter gets a higher education. The Missionary school was attended by daughters from noble families, and as a charity case, Hanako was reminded by her father to never be inferior to her rich schoolmates. As the classes were carried out in English, Hanako faced a culture shock when she started school. Unable to understand the teachers nor able to grasp the conversation of her peers, Hanako resolved to work really hard at her studies.This drama follows Hanako from her childhood, through her years at the missionary school, to her life as a school teacher and finally as the translator of L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables".

Born to a poor family in Yamanashi prefecture, in the year of 1903 at the age of 10, Muraoka Hanako was accepted by a Missionary school in Tokyo. It was her father's Ando Kippei, greatest wish that his daughter gets a higher education. The Missionary school was attended by daughters from noble families, and as a charity case, Hanako was reminded by her father to never be inferior to her rich schoolmates. As the classes were carried out in English, Hanako faced a culture shock when she started school. Unable to understand the teachers nor able to grasp the conversation of her peers, Hanako resolved to work really hard at her studies.This drama follows Hanako from her childhood, through her years at the missionary school, to her life as a school teacher and finally as the translator of L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables".

The beautiful mystery buff Umizuki Chinami and career elite has been assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division as a rookie detective. However, on her first day of work, she is told that she is not in their future plans. Chinami ends up partnered with the handsome detective Shitara Kyosuke who has a black belt in karate. The First Investigative Division’s ace, Kyosuke had a promising future until he winds up having the blundering Chinami as his partner. Even though the two of them are scolded by veteran detectives and made to feel like a burden, this curious duo confront and solve difficult cases, and save Japan. ~~ Based on original work 'Senryokugai Sousakan Hime Deka Umizuki Chinami' by Nitadori Kei.

Nana is a servant of the Kazahaya family, She is from a samurai family. Her father was about to reveal wrongdoings within the domain but had to commit ritual suicide for a crime he hadn't done. Ichinoshin tries to correct the wrongdoings, but end up being a target himself. After finding out her father's enemy is the man behind it all, Nana decides to protect Ichinoshin and his children, as she had promised Sachi, Ichinoshin's late wife. ~~ Adapted from the Hamuro Rin's book.