Asian Drama

Yoshino Hikari has a bright and friendly personality. She works at a credit association in her hometown. To pursue her dream of doing pet related work, she moves to Tokyo and begins to work at a pet salon. Unfortunately, the pet salon goes bankrupt. Bailiff Obara Itsuki carries out his work at the pet salon and becomes impressed with Yoshino Hikari. Obara Itsuki is not comfortable around dogs, but all the animals seem to like Yoshino Hikari. Due to Obara Itsuki, Yoshino Hikari begins to work as a bailiff assistant and teams up with Obara Itsuki.

Meanwhile, Kurihashi Yusuke is a clerk at the bailiffs’ office. He used to work at a bank and wants to become a lawyer. While working at the bailiffs’ office, Kurihashi Yusuke learns about the law. He develops unexpected feelings for Yoshino Hikari.

Adapted from the novel "Shikkokan Monogatari" (執行官物語) by Ogawa Junpei (小川潤平).

When a police officer is posted to a remote village in the countryside, little does he realize he's encroaching on a community of a cannibals.

Adapted from the manga "Gannibal" (ガンニバル) by Ninomiya Masaaki (二宮正明).

Defined as the spirit of hope in Greek mythology, Elpis centers around Asakawa Ena, an ace announcer who fell from her position due to a scandal; Kishimoto Takuro, a young director of a variety show; and Saito Seiichi, an ace reporter, as they work together to pursue the truth behind a serial murder case which the death penalty has been set.

Kato is a young screenwriter, but he has been in a slump. No one gives him attention, even as he plans a movie. One day, he goes to convenience store Liso Mart to buy dog food for his girlfriend’s dog. There, he meets Keiko, who works at Liso Mart. She is a mysterious married woman.

Satoru Matsudo moves to Tokyo in hopes of becoming an actor. He has trouble breaking into the industry, but his luck begins to change when he finds an airplane ticket belonging to a talent agency CEO. Time passes, and Satoru makes a name for himself as an actor. He gets a call from America. Hoping it is a Hollywood offer, he instead hears about his estranged older brother.

Set within the highly competitive animation industry. People in that field work hard to receive the title of "haken," which is given to the most popular animation.

Saito Hitomi works on her first anime as a director. She struggles along with her colleagues to make the animation film, while dealing with various difficulties. Meanwhile, Ouji Chiharu is an animation director and has made hit movies in his past. He teams up with Producer Arishina Kayako to make his first animation film in 8 years. Saito Hitomi and Ouji Chiharu now direct films that are set for release on the same date. Who will get the title of haken?

Adapted from the novel "Haken Anime!" (ハケンアニメ！) by Tsujimura Mizuki (辻村深月).

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Nakagoshi Maho works as a wedding planner. She is in charge of the wedding for Isikawa Akihito and Nitta Haruka. On the day of their wedding, Nakagoshi Maho faces various problems like the appearance of Nitta Haruka's ex-boyfriend Yashiro Yuya at the wedding. Can Nakagoshi Maho, who never says no to her clients as a wedding planner, solve all the problems that come her way and have Akihito and Haruka enjoy the best wedding possible?

A large monster attacks Japan, but dies suddenly. It's only a matter of time that a gas explosion will take place from the carcass of the monster, which could cause the country to collapse. Tatewaki Arata is assigned to lead a special force team into the critical area. Amane Yukino appears in front of Tatewaki Arata. She is the secretary to the environment minister and also the ex-fiancee of Tatewaki Arata.

Oogane Michiko, who works in the planning sales department of a famous furniture maker, had a traumatic experience with her ex-boyfriend in the past. Being a railway otaku for 10 years, she uses her free time to visit train stations on local lines nationwide where she meets various people, enjoys the scenery and delicacies.

Mikami, an ex-yakuza of middle age with most of his life in prison, gets released after serving 13 years of sentence for murder. Hoping to find his long lost mother, from whom he was separated as a child, he applies for a TV show and meets a young TV director Tsunoda. Meanwhile, he struggles to get a proper job and fit into society. His impulsive, adamant nature and ingrained beliefs cause friction in his relationship with Tsunoda and those who want to help him.

Adapted from the novel "Mibuncho" by Ryuzo Saki.

Takei Chiyo was born to a poor family in Osaka Prefecture’s Minamikawachi district at the of the Meiji era. Her mother passed away when she was still a child, and she lived with her father Teruo and younger brother. Although Chiyo could not be put through elementary school, she has the gift of the gab and quick wit. At the age of 9, she starts working as a servant in Dotonbori and comes across the theatre world which immediately captivates her. Chiyo’s desire to become an actress grows stronger by the day. She eventually runs away and heads to Kyoto where she throws herself into acting.

Takei Chiyo was born to a poor family in Osaka Prefecture’s Minamikawachi district at the of the Meiji era. Her mother passed away when she was still a child, and she lived with her father Teruo and younger brother. Although Chiyo could not be put through elementary school, she has the gift of the gab and quick wit. At the age of 9, she starts working as a servant in Dotonbori and comes across the theatre world which immediately captivates her. Chiyo’s desire to become an actress grows stronger by the day. She eventually runs away and heads to Kyoto where she throws herself into acting.

Momoko is 75-years-old and lives alone. In 1964, Momoko came by herself to Tokyo from her hometown. She met Shuzo and married him. They raised two children together, but Shuzo suddenly passes away. Momoko is dumbfounded by being alone again. She begins to go to the library and borrows books. This changes her life.

Adapted from the novel by Wakatake Chisato.

Inspector Sugishita Ukyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Missions Unit makes brilliant deductions and cracks difficult cases with his partner Kaburagi Wataru who used to be a career bureaucrat from the Ministry of Justice.

An unpopular idol, Kurobara Junko, pretends to be innocent, but in reality, she is an absurd girl who is jealous of her rival. She volunteers to work as traffic safety and security awareness in a parade to increase her popularity, but ends up discovering a murder scene and being accused of being a serial murderer who called himself a "justice". She then works with police detective Todo Shusaku to solve the murder and clear her name.

A boy was trained to be a killer. Several years later, he is now an elite contract killer nicknamed 'Fable'. The man takes a year off from his job as an assassin in order to live like an ordinary person in Osaka.

Oshima Goro, a janitor of an elementary school, becomes a gifted teacher who teaches children that have fallen behind even though he has no licence. Single mother Akasaka Chiaki opposes formal education in schools during the war and sees the potential in a school to give coaching for a free, well-rounded education. The two of them become a couple both at work and at home, and create new history in the industry in this story depicting a family’s 50 years, set against the backdrop of the Showa to Heisei era.

Adapted from 2016 full-length novel "Mikazuki" by Mori Eto.

Transport company president Akamatsu doubts that poor maintenance a trailer truck's wheel-separation accident and asks customer strategy head Sawada at manufacturer Hope Cars to investigate. Meanwhile, Izaki at Hope Bank's head branch sales division has doubts about Hope Car's business plans and embarks on an independent investigation. They both discover that this corporate powerhouse has been hiding vehicle recalls.

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.

Inogashira Goro continues eating his way across Japan on his lunch breaks. His tour of Japan's restaurants starts this time in Osaka.

Budokan is an upbeat touching story that revolves around a fictional idol unit NEXT YOU struggling for a break in the industry and striving to perform at the famous Nippon Budokan–one of the most revered concert venues in Japan reserved only for the best performers. The story will cover various topics surrounding idol's career such as scandals, inner conflicts, romance, etc., giving a realistic glimpse to the idol world. Will the girls of NEXT YOU be able to eventually build up fame and shine on the grandest stage of Budokan?

~~ Based on a novel by Asai Ryo.

Budokan is an upbeat touching story that revolves around a fictional idol unit NEXT YOU struggling for a break in the industry and striving to perform at the famous Nippon Budokan–one of the most revered concert venues in Japan reserved only for the best performers. The story will cover various topics surrounding idol's career such as scandals, inner conflicts, romance, etc., giving a realistic glimpse to the idol world. Will the girls of NEXT YOU be able to eventually build up fame and shine on the grandest stage of Budokan?

~~ Based on a novel by Asai Ryo.

One day, the current prime minister of Japan, Muto Taizan, and his useless son, Sho, suddenly discover that they have switched bodies.

With no known cause or solution at hand, Sho reluctantly ends up appearing in the Diet on his father’s behalf. But he completely cannot follow the deliberations as well as the questions and answers because it has been his routine to skip his studies. He is also repeatedly caught making childish responses or misreading kanji in documents. However, untainted by the adult world, Sho’s straightforward opinions and genuine feelings start to mobilise the Diet and the public.

On the other hand, Taizan has to lead the life of a university student and search for a job on behalf of his son, but with the brains of a prime minister. He refutes arrogant interviewers with his overwhelming knowledge and debating skills. Although Taizan wins the war of words, he is an absolute failure in the interviews itself. Furthermore, several peculiar girls whom Sho has had relationships with appear and makes Taizan more bewildered.

New student Kanji transfers to 6th grade 2 class, where Ayami Mutoi (Keiko Kitagawa) works as the homeroom teacher. Students begin to talk among themselves that they have seen new transfer student Kanji in a dream. Yuiko Koto (Manatsu Kimura) also had a night mare. In her nightmare, a boy that looks transfer student Kanji appeared as a prince. Ayami Mutoi tries to keep that to herself. She actually likes the prince in her dream.

Detective Tono Kazuyuki (Sato Koichi) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's First Investigative Division resigns to take responsibility. However, he gets an appointment letter which he is unprepared for...to become an instructor at the police academy!

It is a useless role in the classroom involving theories about the many violent criminals. Tono, who has thus far used seemingly unorthodox measures to arrest criminals in investigations he obssessed over, assesses better than anyone else that he is least suited to be an instructor ... ... Awaiting him at the police academy he goes to as a new instructor are the naive young people of today who are attracted by the stability of being a civil servant and the cool uniform, particularly the trainee, Miyata Eiji (Miura Haruma), who handles everything tactfully. He is smart, good at sports and popular with both genders, but he has neither encountered hardships nor setbacks, and has nimbly made his way through an innocuous life. In fact, Miyata's way of life is far from the qualities of a police officer who protects the lives and possessions of citizens.

At the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Headquarters, the core of the Japanese Police, an unprecedented hostage situation in the history of MPD breaks out. The hostages are 12 top executives of the MPD: Superintendent-General Tamaru, Deputy Supt-Gen Hasegawa and bureau chiefs. The conference room, where the perpetrator and the executives are held hostage, is completely surrounded by Riot Police Squad and Special Investigation Team (SIT). The perpetrator’s motives are unknown and he makes no demands.

Meanwhile, two gunshots echo from the conference room. Ignoring Sugishita’s strong opposition, Nakazono orders Riot Squad and SIT to storm the conference room. What they find there is Yaegashi, shot and dead. Gunpowder residue is found on all the hostages, but who fired the gun? This cannot be determined. While released from captivity, all 12 hostages become suspects.

In response to Supervisor Okouchi’s questioning, all the hostages give ambivalent testimonies that the gun went off while they struggled to neutralize the perpetrator, and that they do not know who pulled the trigger. Concerning Yaegashi’s demands, all remain silent. Becoming strongly suspicious of this, Sugishita and Kanbe gains cooperation of Chief Kakuta and others, and undertake their own question of the executives, who were taken hostage.

On the other hand, receiving the report of the hostage case, National Police Agency Director Onoda, along with National Police Agency Commissioner Kaneko, begins to make disturbing moves.

Kanbe Takeru chooses to remain in the Special Missions Division, but he seems to continue to keep a distance from his direct superior, Sugishita Ukyo. One day, the dead body of the popular female novelist, Mizumoto Shoko, is found in her own home. The possibility of murder fuelled by a grudge is high from the situation at the crime scene, and a male stalker emerges in the line of investigation. However, Ukyo focuses his attention on a missing section from a document package for a new book that Shoko was working on. It is eventually determined that Shoko was attempting to write a novel with an environmental theme which is completely different from her style of writing so far. Ukyo and Kanbe try to get information from the employees at a trading conglomerate that Shoko had interviewed.

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.

Aoyama Saori, working as an office lady at an MNC, gets into trouble with a drunkard on a train. She's saved by Yamada Tsuyoshi. As a form of appreciation, she sends him Hermes teacups. Having no experience with the opposite sex, Tsuyoshi decides to ask for help on the Aladdin Channel BBS on how to interact with Saori.

(Source: TVDb)

Adapted from the novel "Densha Otoko" (電車男) by Nakano Hitori (中野独人). ~~ Based on a real online conversation on the Japanese forum 2channel.

Episodes: 11

Duration: 45 min.

Aired On: Thursday

Ratings: 7.5

The Special Mission Task Team is not considered as important as it might sound. It's positioned in the lowest section of the Metropolitan Police Department and headed by Ukyo Sugishita. Together with his partner, Kaoru Kameyama, this team is Japan’s version of The Odd Couple, solving clueless cases in original and outrageous ways.

The series featured many firsts for the franchise, including the start of the story in a movie rather than the series proper. Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact was the prequel to the series and took place ten years before episode 1. In it, 9-year-old Musashi Haruno encounters the being of light, Ultraman Cosmos, and befriends him as the two confront a threat to Earth.

Ten years later, Musashi, now 19 and a member of Team EYES, once again encounters the being of light from his childhood. The dark being Chaos Header has appeared and is corrupting the monsters of Earth, making them become ravenous and violent creatures that threaten humanity. Through Musashi's will to see the beasts and humans live in peace, Cosmos grants him a new power that will allow him to heal the corrupted creatures.