Kasumi Arimura

Fuji TV

Twenty-eight-year-old Natsu Tsukioka's (Ren Meguro) world turns upside-down when he learns that his college girlfriend, Mizuki Nagumo, has passed away. Natsu attends the funeral while struggling with unresolved feelings and disbelief, as Mizuki had broken up with him out of the blue and they hadn't spoken since that day. To his surprise, Natsu meets a young girl named Umi (Rana Izutani) – and Mizuki's mother informs Natsu that Umi is his and Mizuki's daughter that Mizuki had raised alone for the past seven years. Confronted with this new information, Natsu seeks to understand his newfound daughter and her relationship with her mother. Can Natsu develop his own parental bond with Umi and learn more about Mizuki's choice to leave him all those years ago? This 2024 Japanese drama was directed by Hiroki Kazama and Mai Takano.

Where Does the Sea Begin

Yayoi Momose

Hijiri Suenaga (Arimura Kasumi) is a 25-year-old teacher who takes on a job as a replacement teacher at a co-ed school. She is wildly popular with her new students, who are all fascinated by her. She has been dating Shotaro Kawai (Keita Machida), a busy but successful company employee, for several years and he is hoping to marry Hijiri Suenaga – even though his work means he cannot join her to be nearby as she starts her new job.

But one of Hijiri Suenaga’s students, Akira Kuroiwa (Kenshi Okada), starts to develop feelings for her – feelings that soon turn into love. He tries to express his emotions to her, but she is fearful of the relationship. Meanwhile, things threaten to get very complicated when Shotaro Kawai starts to talk of marriage, arranging a meeting between his parents and Hijiri Suenaga’s – all the time while Akira Kuroiwa’s love for his teacher continues to grow...and one of his female classmates starts to fall for him!

This drama was based on a long-running manga series that debuted in 2013.

“Meet Me After School” is a 2018 Japanese drama series that was directed by Ayuko Tsukahara, Kentaro Takemura, and Toshio Tsuboi.

Meet Me After School

Notice me Sensei Team

When he was in high school, Sota Koyurugi (Matsumoto Jun) harbored a serious crush on his senior, Saeko Takahashi (Ishihara Satomi). Fully aware that Saeko was only interested in handsome, popular guys, Sota was content to keep his distance. At least until fate presented him with a rather unexpected opportunity to win Saeko’s affection.

After learning that Saeko had recently broken up with her boyfriend, Sota musters up the courage to confess his feelings. When Saeko accepts his company and companionship, Sota decides to prove his feelings for her in the most memorable way possible. Knowing how much she adores chocolate, Sota decides to make her a delicious set of handmade chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, Sota’s gift and his heart are rejected by Saeko, who decides to give her ex-boyfriend another chance. Heartbroken, Sota buries his grief in his newfound love of chocolate making, vowing to become a Maître Chocolatier.

Having spent years in Paris, studying the art of chocolate making, Sota returns home and opens an elegant boutique de chocolat. Known as the Chocolate Prince, people from far and wide flock to Sota’s boutique, including Saeko, who upon reacquaintance, insists he create a cake for her upcoming wedding. Having never really gotten over Saeko, will Sota be able to accept her commission and let her go or will he use this brief time they have together to try to win her heart?

Adapted from the manga series, “Heartbroken Chocolatier” by Mizushiro Setona, “Un chocolatier de l'amour perdu” is a 2014 Japanese romantic comedy drama directed by Matsuyama Hiroaki, Miyaki Shogo, and Sekino Munenori.

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