Hiraoka Yuta is an award-winning Japanese actor. He was born on September 1, 1984, in Yamaguchi, Japan, and made his acting debut in 2003. Since then, he has appeared in a wide variety of films and television dramas, including “Tokyo Tarareba Girls” (2017), “Holiday Love” (2018), and “NANA” (2005).

Hiraoka Yuta

TOKYO MX

After falling in love with Hiraoka Naoya (Hiraoka Yuta) while watching him enjoy a beef bowl, thirty-something manga editor, Tokoro “Koro” Madoka’s (Motokariya Yuika) life was changed forever. Unsure of how to approach one of her company’s most popular men, Koro sought the advice of one of her co-workers who advised her to follow Naoya on a grand food-related adventure. Her thought was that if Koro couldn’t enjoy a meal with Naoya himself, she could at least enjoy the same meal on her own and maybe learn a little something about the man at the same time.&nbsp;

Taking this advice to heart, Koro began to follow in Naoya’s footsteps, so to speak, by enjoying the same meals he often enjoyed himself. While Koro has indulged in a surprising number of delicious meals since first beginning this grand adventure, she’s more than a little sad to admit that she hasn’t really gotten much closer to Naoya, at least not in any personal way. Although she has learned quite a bit about her office crush through the food they’ve shared.&nbsp;

Continuing to follow Naoya on his delectable food adventures, Koro hopes that someday soon she’ll find a way to connect with her crush in a much more tangible way. But can sharing meals in such a roundabout way really bring any sort of change to Koro’s unrequited love?

Picking up where “One-sided Love Gourmet Diary” (2020) left off, “One-sided Love Gourmet Diary 2” is a 2022 Japanese romance drama directed by&nbsp;Hirabayashi Katsutoshi.

One-sided Love Gourmet Diary 2

🍡Eat, Love, Watch 0.2💞

Tokyo MX

As a member of the editorial staff of Juice, a monthly manga for young women, Tokoro Madoka (Motokariya Yuika), or Koro to her friends, considers herself to be pretty successful in her career. But as experienced as she is in her professional life, she’s equally inexperienced when it comes to love.&nbsp;

Despite being in her thirties, Koro has never really had a chance to experience love; though that’s not to say she has no idea what love is. Having fallen in love with Hiraoka Naoya (Hiraoka Yuta), one of her company’s four most popular men, while watching him enjoy a meal, Koro would love the chance to take things from platonic co-worker to romantic partner. However, with no real dating experience, Koro has no idea where to start. Asking one of her colleagues for help, Koro is advised to learn more about Naoya by finding out what foods he most enjoys eating.

Taking this advice to heart, Koro begins to keep track of the meals Naoya enjoys so she can go out and try them herself. While eating the same food as Naoya doesn’t get Koro any closer to him in person, it does inspire her dreams. Unfortunately, a full belly and a head full of fantasies won’t get her any closer to the man of her dreams, will it?

A delightful little treat, “One-sided Love Gourmet Diary” is a 2020 Japanese romantic drama directed by Hirabayashi Katsutoshi.

One-sided Love Gourmet Diary

🍱Eat, Love, Watch 0.1💘

TV Asahi

As a contracted worker at Amagi Pharmaceuticals, Yui Sato (Airi Matsui) might not be living the high life but she’s doing the best she can. Unfortunately, there are times when she feels like her best just isn’t good enough; especially after the death of her beloved dog. Keenly feeling the loss of her beloved pet, Yui tries to drown her sorrows at a local bar, but even something as simple as that doesn’t work out the way she’d hoped it would.

Tired of listening to Yui wail over her dearly departed, Kyoichi Amagi (Mokomichi Hayami) decides he’s had enough. As CEO of Amagi Pharmaceuticals, Kyoichi is used to having people follow his orders, so naturally, he expects Yui to do exactly as he says when he rather cruelly tells her to shut up and go home. Enraged by the disdain she hears dripping in this man’s voice, Yui lets her emotions get the better of her and lashes out at him in an act that leaves him sprawled face-first on the floor.

Called into the CEO’s office at work the next day, Yui is horrified when she realizes that the man she met at the bar last night is her boss. Sure she’s seconds away from being fired, Yui tries to prepare for the worst but instead of firing her, Kyoichi presents her with a most unusual request. Afraid her job might be on the line, does Yui have any other choice but to accept her boss’ strange request to become her slave?

Based on the manga series of the same name by Shiki Kokonose, “This Guy is the Biggest Mistake in My Life” is a 2020 Japanese romantic comedy drama directed by Taeko Kikuchi and Kenji Kuwajima.

This Guy is the Biggest Mistake in My Life

🔬 My Exhausting Boss 🐕

“I spent my precious youth making “tarareba” (when-if) excuses, and now it’s gone…” The hit comic series that saw over 1.8 million copies printed throughout Japan has now been remade into a drama!

Rinko Kamata, 30 years old, is unmarried and doesn't even have a boyfriend. Her job: (struggling) screenwriter.
With both her career and love life not going well, Rinko indulges herself in a string of "Girls Night Out" shindigs with close friends Kaori and Koyuki.

"When I become pretty, I'm sure an even better guy will come along!"
"If I fall in love with the guy, then I can marry him!"

Just when the ladies were absorbed in their lively "tarareba" (when-if) conversation, a young, blonde and handsome man suddenly shows up and scolds them "You tarareba women!" Just like that, the ladies are given a harsh reality check.

"I thought that if I really wanted it, I could get the ideal career and love life."
"Are we no longer 'girls'?"
Such was the painful truth that smacked them in the face.

Women across the generations will surely relate to these ladies, who search for happiness despite all the struggles in life. "Tokyo Tarareba Girls" is a drama that is sure to hit very close to home, 100% guaranteed!

Tokyo Tarareba Girls

💪 Gang Girls 👊 

Ready to set out on her own, Nana “Hachi” Komatsu (Aoi Miyazaki) boards a train for Tokyo. Full of all the hopes and dreams of so many other young women who have sought a new life in the big city, Hachi has no doubt life in the city will be nothing short of amazing. Finding her seat, Hachi is soon joined by Nana Osaki (Mika Nakashima), another ambitious young woman headed to Tokyo to fulfill her own set of dreams. Feeling they’re somehow connected by more than just their names, the two girls form an unlikely bond during their trip to Tokyo, but go their separate ways once they reach the city.

With hopes of starting a new life with her boyfriend, Shoji Endo (Yuta Hiraoka), Hachi has come to the city to do just that. Meanwhile, Nana hopes to break into the rock music scene, but both girls quickly realize that dreaming and doing are two entirely different things. Despite following two entirely different paths, the two young women are unexpectedly reunited while searching for a place to live. Interested in the same apartment, the two agree to share it as roommates and so begins an unexpected friendship.

Sharing their struggles and celebrating their triumphs, Hachi and Nana draw closer together, each a source of strength and encouragement as they set out to make their dreams come true. But will either of them find what they came to the city searching for?

Based on the manga of the same name by Ai Yazawa, “NANA” is a 2005 Japanese drama film directed by Kentaro Otani.

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