Dorama

[LadyYuina]

Care to share with me dorama that you have seen and thought was interesting? I'm currently in a hunting spree for dorama, and it'd be great if anyone else can provide me with some titles and a short summary. (Doesn't only have to be a Japanese drama; I'd be more than happy to hear about any asian titles that involve some romance if not a lot).

[KiraraKim]

The only one I saw was Nodame Cantabile. But I highly recommend it if you have not already seen it. It is based on the manga of the same name. Here is the summary

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Nodame_Cantabile

An anime based on the manga is also airing right now.

They are also making a Maison Ikkoku live action drama. I think it is airing this upcoming Spring. Not sure if it is going to be good but of course the manga is fantastic so I will be watching it for sure (as long as it is subbed).

Anyways I would also be interested in some good J-drama recommendations.

[7Raven7]

For those of you who need a translation (I did)...

Dorama (from Wikipedia):

Japanese dramas (Japanese: ドラマ dorama; J-dramas; from English "drama") are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of dramas including romance, comedies, detective stories, horror and many others.

Japanese dramas are broadcast in three-month long seasons, with new dramas airing each season. The majority of dramas are aired weekdays in the evenings around 9:00pm, 10:00pm, or even 11:00pm. Dramas shown in the morning or afternoon are generally broadcast on a daily basis, and episodes of the same drama can be aired every day for several months, such as NHK's asadora, or morning dramas. The evening dramas, however, air weekly, and are usually 9 to 12 episodes long, though sometimes there will be an epilogue special made after the final episode if the drama has been a huge success.

[ash_chan]

Kimi wa Petto based off the manga of the same name (also known as Tramps Like Us). No idea what it's about, but I have friends who won't shut up about how good it is. I should probably take a look at it one of these days.

[Tyrdium]

Gokusen (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Gokusen). Gokusen. Gokusen. Gokusen.

Seriously, go watch it. It's great.

Gokusen.

[silan]

Kimi wa Petto was alright.

[shameless plug] For a number of excellent reviews (:D) on J-drama, visit The Nihon Review (http://www.nihonreview.com).

Other dorama I would recommend that I haven't reviewed yet:

Trick. This is a mostly episodic comedic mystery about a magician and a cowardly physicist who go around and solve "paranormal" mysteries. I really enjoy this series, but a lot of the comedy is culture specific, meaning that some jokes are going to fly over a Western viewer's head. Still, there is a lot of comedy here for anyone to appreciate, and the mysteries are interesting and tricky (hah!). Season 2 is better than Season 1, but season 1 has some background info that you'll need for the second. There's a third season but I haven't seen it yet. I'm writing up a review now which will be more in-depth.

Nodame Cantabile. This is a brilliant show and my personal favorite out of the ones I've seen. The comedy is slapstick but right on target, and the music is gorgeous. I love the manga, but strangely enough I love this J-drama adaptation more, which is rare for me.

Kisarazu Cats Eye. One of the strangest series I've seen, but it has the same slapstick off-the-wall humor that Nodame Cantabile has. Bussan finds out that he has only a few months left to live, so he decides to live up the rest of his life. He and his friends, all ex-baseball players from high school, form a group ("Kisarazu Cats Eye") and participate in some crazy antics. The seriousness of Bussan's situation is played out perfectly, and his "death" scene at the end is truly hilarious.

GTO. Its inclusion on any list like this is just a given.

Hero. A drama about lawyers. I'm running out of eloquence, so I'll just say that I highly recommend it.

And check out some others on [shameless plug]NHRV (http://www.nihonreview.com).

[Mei]

Gokusen (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Gokusen). Gokusen. Gokusen. Gokusen.

Seriously, go watch it. It's great.

Gokusen.
Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. : D

Also...

Hana Yori Dango (http://www.jdorama.com/drama.956.htm) - Terrible manga, crap anime, ACEST live-action (comedy/romance)

Kurosagi (http://jdorama.com/drama.1008.htm) - Yamappi + con artist shennanigans = "Bang!" (comic drama)

1 Litre of Tears (http://jdorama.com/drama.959.htm) - so sad... so very sad, you will cry. Constantly.

Sh15uya (Shibuya 15) - No link of jdorama.com, but pretty cool. My most recent, which I like rather alot. Based on various gangs of 15 year old delinquents, in a virtual Shibuya, and a boy waking up to with no memories.

Seen a bit of Ahihabara@DEEP recently too, which is Genshiken-esque. Focusing on the otaku of Akihabara.

[LadyYuina]

Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. : D

Also...

Hana Yori Dango (http://www.jdorama.com/drama.956.htm) - Terrible manga, crap anime, ACEST live-action (comedy/romance)

Kurosagi (http://jdorama.com/drama.1008.htm) - Yamappi + con artist shennanigans = "Bang!" (comic drama)

1 Litre of Tears (http://jdorama.com/drama.959.htm) - so sad... so very sad, you will cry. Constantly.

Sh15uya (Shibuya 15) - No link of jdorama.com, but pretty cool. My most recent, which I like rather alot. Based on various gangs of 15 year old delinquents, in a virtual Shibuya, and a boy waking up to with no memories.

Seen a bit of Ahihabara@DEEP recently too, which is Genshiken-esque. Focusing on the otaku of Akihabara.

Ooohhhhh, I've seen Ichi Ritoru no Namida. Yup, it was very sad! :(

[genki sakura]

I've seen bits of 1 Litre of Tears...tis sad indeed..."konayuki" ftw

"Crying Out Love in the Center of the world" (tv version; I have yet to watch the movie version) is currently my favorite. "Nobuta wo Produce" is something I have to finish watching...eventually.

[madpierrot]

I haven't seen many, but two I did see an thought were ok were Juyon-sai no Haha and Anna-san no Omame. Juyon-sai no haha stands for 14 year old mother and is about, as you'd guess, a 14 year old girl that gets pregnant. Don't know the translation for Anna-san no Omame, but it's basically about this one girl who's crazy and the adventures she gets into. That one is much more a comedy then drama, but still good.

[Akira169]

Two doramas I highly recommend.

Taiyou no Uta: It's by the same actress who starred in "Namida." It'll probably have you crying, but not like "Namida." About a girl with XP, a disease which leaves your body extremely vulnerable to UV rays, and the romance she develops...

Dragon Zakura. It's not really a romance, but it's really good. It's about a lawyer who trys to gain fame by taking these stupid (like, really stupid) kids and getting them into Tokyo University. Very educational and there's some romance, but not much.

[Aoyagi]

I've only seen 'Friends' starring Fukada Kyoko & Won Bin.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend it,
but if you're a big fan of Kyoko chan, like me, then it's worth a watch.

[Mei]

I've only seen 'Friends' starring Fukada Kyoko & Won Bin.
It hasn't got an annoying theme tune like it's American sibling, I hope?

I'm just looking for more episodes of Beautiful Life (http://jdorama.com/drama.36.htm) - my friend has always said it's her favourite, and I've seen the first episode and EEEEE~ A girl in a wheelchair, a hairstylist, and romantikuuu - what's not to like?! Looking at the synopsis, I fear it's going to become quite sad though, uwah!

[isolatedotaku]

Dragon Zakura
Dragon Zakura
Dragon Zakura

DRAGON ZAKURA

Dragon Zakura (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Dragon_Zakura) is an amazing series about a lawyer who takes it upon himself to get 5 students from a crappy high school into Todai. I just finished this series, and it comes highly recommended.

[LadyYuina]

It hasn't got an annoying theme tune like it's American sibling, I hope?

I'm just looking for more episodes of Beautiful Life (http://jdorama.com/drama.36.htm) - my friend has always said it's her favourite, and I've seen the first episode and EEEEE~ A girl in a wheelchair, a hairstylist, and romantikuuu - what's not to like?! Looking at the synopsis, I fear it's going to become quite sad though, uwah!

I have all the episodes. I'm a member of ******, and you should join (for five bucks a month), if you want all the episodes. :)

[silan]

:suspiciou

If you're smart, you can find it for free.

I need to see Dragon Zakura. It sounds good.

[Erigion]

I have all the episodes. I'm a member of National-Anime, and you should join (for five bucks a month), if you want all the episodes. :)
If you're paying for anything that's been fansubbed in the past few years you're supporting bootleggers.

[LadyYuina]

If you're paying for anything that's been fansubbed in the past few years you're supporting bootleggers.

No... I have not been a member for a year yet. Since you're all saying this... guess I should terminate my membership. But it's such a pain to search for stuff for free.... especially dorama. I have a hard time finding most of them for free, so I don't bother to do so. :(

Also, I am ashamed that I did not realize they were bootlegging... XD

[Madoka]

I recently watched Kekkon Dekinai Otoko and Densha Otoko (the series, not the movie). They're both wonderfully silly romantic comedies. Densha Otoko borders on annoying at times, but if you have any otaku in you, you can relate. :)

Nodame Cantabile is next on my list -- I've heard great things about it.

Edit: Ack, forgot the summaries for you!

Kekkon Dekinai Otoko ("The Man Who Can't Get Married") - Kuwano Shinsuke is a 40 year old man who enjoys being alone, and doesn't see the need to ever get married. One day he meets a girl... :)

Densha Otoko ("Train Man") - Tsuyoshi Yamada is an anime otaku who is very shy. One day he sees a beautiful woman on a train, and stands up to a man harassing her. This story is supposedly based on a true story.

[silan]

Nodame Cantabile is really a fantastic drama, absolutely hilarious. I don't like slapstick humor that much, but it is done very well in Nodame and is very, very funny. Also, the music is gorgeous, the production quality is awesome, the actors are perfect for their roles (with a hilarious straight man turn done by Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki) and they actually look like they're playing their respective instruments. This series is just done very well.

[IceDemon]

I wanted to add more wieght to these three: GTO, Gokusen, and Nodame Contabile. They are all great although right now I think GTO is the best one, then Nodame Contabile, and lastly Gokusen. GTO has the action and is funny with what happens to Onizuka. Nodame Contabile is stilling airing but so far the music I find is amazing and the comedy is slightly lacking. Gokusen isn't really funny but rather just eh, or ok.

[silan]

Well, that's kind of contradictory. You say they're all great, and then go on to say that they're lacking and "eh." :suspiciou

Anyway, I didn't find the GTO drama to be the comedy that the anime and manga are. In fact, I'd even say that's not really the point of the drama at all, because I found it to be more inspiring and touching than funny. Of course, it had plenty of funny moments; I just don't feel that those moments were the point of the series. I think other series ended up being more comedic than GTO, like Nodame Cantabile and Kisarazu Cats Eye.

[IceDemon]

To explain what I meant since it came off as contradictary. I mean to say the those three are the best I have seen to date and then I ranked them according to what I thought was the best. They are not perfect however and I don't think any show can be so I went on to explain why each one got the ranking it did and what was wrong with it in my opinion. Hope that explains what I means, if you have any questions please ask away and I'll try and elaborate/explain it again. It would be so much easier just talking to people so what you say comes across properly.

[Spilled Milk]

I've actually never seen a Japanese drama before...but since you did say you were open to other Asian titles I can and will certainly recommend a few Korean dramas! My Girl-Staring Lee Dong wook, Lee Da Hae and Lee Jun ki. They all do an awesome job. Lee da hae as Yu-Rin is just sooooo wonderful.!
"From the creators of hit comedy/drama Sassy Girl, Chunhyang comes their latest work, My Girl. Lee Dong Wook stars as Gong Chan, the heir to a large company fortune owned by his ailing grandfather. Bedridden, he spends his days regretting his past decisions - in particular when he severed ties with his own daughter (Gong Chan's aunt) because she fell in love with a man deemed unsuitable. She gave birth to a baby girl, but then his daughter and her husband died in an earthquake. To this day, Gong Chan's grandfather has been trying to track his granddaughter down.

One day Gong Chan meets the young and energetic Yoo Rin (Lee Da Hae), who instantly reminds him of his aunt. This gives Gong Chan an idea to make his grandfather's dying wish come true. So begins a complex relationship between the young couple. My Girl also stars hot new actor Lee Jun Gi (King And The Clown) as a who falls hopelessly in love with Yoo Rin, and Park Si Yeon as a spoiled young tennis pro who sets her sights on Gong Chan - and will do anything to get him!" -Taken from YEs asia.com
Thats My favorite so far. But I also recommend Over The Rainbow (With Fany From Fly to The sky), and Which Star are you from. plus you can get US versions completely legal on Yesasia.com Not to pricey when you consider its the whole series.

[animanic_critic]

There are three Japanese dramas that have left an impression so significant to me until this day:

1) Beach Boys
Yep, back in the day (1997 to be precise), this was the series that pretty much opened me up to the world of dorama. Plus, this was one series that chartered Takashi Sorimachi and (<3) Ryoko Hirosue (<3) into household names. Oh, and to think that Richie Sambora was also responsible for the opening theme with Takashi!

2) Love Generation
Another mega-hit back in '97. Why? Easy: Takuya Kimura. I believe this was the series that made him as iconic as Winter Sonata did for Bae Yong Jun. I think this is also something dheu would watching smittenly ^^

3) Hoshi No Kinka (Heaven's Coins)
This is the least famous and oldest of the three (1995) but it certainly the least significant. I put this as a favorite simply because of its high melodramatic factor and Noriko Sakai's stellar performances. This series also made me shed some tears... seriously.

[LadyYuina]

I've actually never seen a Japanese drama before...but since you did say you were open to other Asian titles I can and will certainly recommend a few Korean dramas! My Girl-Staring Lee Dong wook, Lee Da Hae and Lee Jun ki. They all do an awesome job. Lee da hae as Yu-Rin is just sooooo wonderful.!
"From the creators of hit comedy/drama Sassy Girl, Chunhyang comes their latest work, My Girl. Lee Dong Wook stars as Gong Chan, the heir to a large company fortune owned by his ailing grandfather. Bedridden, he spends his days regretting his past decisions - in particular when he severed ties with his own daughter (Gong Chan's aunt) because she fell in love with a man deemed unsuitable. She gave birth to a baby girl, but then his daughter and her husband died in an earthquake. To this day, Gong Chan's grandfather has been trying to track his granddaughter down.

One day Gong Chan meets the young and energetic Yoo Rin (Lee Da Hae), who instantly reminds him of his aunt. This gives Gong Chan an idea to make his grandfather's dying wish come true. So begins a complex relationship between the young couple. My Girl also stars hot new actor Lee Jun Gi (King And The Clown) as a who falls hopelessly in love with Yoo Rin, and Park Si Yeon as a spoiled young tennis pro who sets her sights on Gong Chan - and will do anything to get him!" -Taken from YEs asia.com
Thats My favorite so far. But I also recommend Over The Rainbow (With Fany From Fly to The sky), and Which Star are you from. plus you can get US versions completely legal on Yesasia.com Not to pricey when you consider its the whole series.

Thanks for the summary on "My Girl", but I own that series. And I do say so myself that it was definitely good. Although I have a hard time choosing which is my favorite: "My Girl" or "I'm Sorry, I Love You."

[Spilled Milk]

Thanks for the summary on "My ", but I own that series. And I do say so myself that it was definitely good. Although I have a hard time choosing which is my favorite: "My " or "I'm Sorry, I Love You."

ah haha..ohwell hopefully someone else will find it useful..I heard I'm Sorry i love you was really good but really tragic...

[KiraraKim]

Is anyone planning on watching the new Maison Ikkoku drama?

[silan]

2) Love Generation
Another mega-hit back in '97. Why? Easy: Takuya Kimura. I believe this was the series that made him as iconic as Winter Sonata did for Bae Yong Jun. I think this is also something dheu would watching smittenly ^^
Yes. Kimura Takuya = :love:

I think I liked him in Hero best. Nemureru Mori-type Kimura was sexy but very creepy.