Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! It's easy to start watching Japanese dramas with this J-drama 101 guide!

Here is a selection of evergreen & trending dramas to enjoy. Check out our newest J-Drama favorites below. Follow the collection and share your favorites for other J-Drama beginners!

J-Drama Beginners

Five years ago, Sakura Nanase (Mone Kamishiraishi) was one of a number of witnesses who watched as a handsome young doctor stepped in at the last minute to save the life of a stranger. Enamored as much by his charm as she was by his professional skill, Sakura could stop herself from immediately falling in love. Determined to find a way to meet this heroic doctor again, Sakura decided rather quickly that the only way to do so would be to go into the medical profession herself. Now, at twenty-two, Sakura is a rookie nurse who has just taken her first position at a local hospital.

Working hard at her new job, Sakura is surprised when she learns that the doctor she fell in love with all those years ago is working in the same hospital. But what’s even more surprising is the fact that Doctor Kiari Tendo (Takeru Satoh) is nothing like she imagined him to be. Often referred to as the “Devil” at work, Doctor Tendo is a cold perfectionist who has no qualms about making snide comments and biting remarks to his co-workers. Despite this fact, Sakura works hard to gain Doctor Tendo’s recognition at work and has no problem expressing her feelings about him openly and honestly. Her persistent nature earns her the nickname, “Warrior Chick” at work and, as she refuses to back down, Doctor Tendo can’t help but take notice.

Despite his numerous efforts to resist, Doctor Tendo finds his heart softening towards the tenacious nurse, Sakura. Will her dedication to her work and her persistent declarations of love be enough to finally win him over?

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Maki Enjoji, “An Incurable Case of Love” is a 2020 romantic comedy drama directed by Fuminori Kaneko, Ryosuke Fukuda, and Kenta Tanaka.

An Incurable Case of Love

Fuji TV

As high school students, Tsumugi Aoba (Haruna Kawaguchi) and So Sakura (Ren Meguro) shared a keen interest in music. With their interests so similarly aligned, it was only natural for a friendship to blossom between them. Over time, that friendship developed into something deeper, a relationship that might have come to last a lifetime, if not for So’s sudden change of heart.

Calling their relationship off without any warning or reason, So not only broke Tsumugi’s heart, but his immediate disappearance afterward left her completely crushed. Eight years later, Tsumugi may occasionally wonder what happened to So but has, in all other ways, moved on with her life. Now living in Tokyo, Tsumugi works part-time at a large music store where she is free to completely immerse herself in the music she loves so dearly. Perfectly happy with her life, Tsumugi might have eventually forgotten about So completely, if fate hadn’t decided their paths needed to cross once again.

Noticing So at work one day, Tsumugi musters up the courage to approach him, only to find that in the eight years since they last spoke, he has almost completely lost his hearing. With sparks of their old flame beginning to reignite within her heart, will Tsumugi find a way to solidify her place in So’s now-silent world?

A story of fate and second chances, “Silent” is a 2022 Japanese romance drama directed by Hiroki Kazama.

Silent

The Sound of Love Team

Makino (Inoue Mao) is a student at the super-prestigious Eitoku Academy, a seat of learning for some of the children of Japan’s wealthiest individuals. Somewhat intimidated by the school and its rich-kid students, she wants nothing except to stay below the radar and unnoticed during her time at the school. She has one girlfriend at the school, but does not speak to anyone else.

All that changes on the day her friend spills juice all over the pristine white shirt of Domyouji Tsukasa (Jun Matsumoto), the most aggressive and spoilt member of the so-called “Flower Four” or “F4.” This unofficial group comprises the good-looking but bratty sons of the most powerful businesspeople in Japan. The F4 are ruthless bullies, and often pressure their victims into dropping out. But when Domyouji Tsukasa snaps at Makino’s friend, Makino stands up to him. The F4 instructs the entire school to bully her in revenge. But when she snaps and gives him a taste of his own medicine, Domyouji Tsukasa unexpectedly falls for her. All of a sudden, the pendulum swings in favor of Makino – but things get very complicated when fellow F4 member Hanazawa Rui (Oguri Shun) also takes a shine to her!

The drama was based on a hit 1992-2008 manga series that was authored by Yoko Kamio.

“BOYS OVER FLOWERS” is a 2005 Japanese drama series that was directed by Yasuharu Ishii.

BOYS OVER FLOWERS

🍡 A Bouquet of Dango 🍡 Team

Friendless loner Kazunari Hira (Riku Hagiwara) is having a miserable time at high school. Things get even worse for him as the new semester starts, and he finds himself in a deeply uncomfortable situation. He is unexpectedly rescued by the wildly popular Sou Kiyoi (Yusei Yagi). Kazunari can’t help falling for the dashing Kiyoi, but thinks he has no chance of winning his classmate’s heart. However, it turns out Kiyoi has a secret dream – one that could possibly bring them together. Will this connection drive them apart? Or could it lead them to an unlikely love? This 2021 Japanese BL series was was directed by Mai Sakai and based on a novel by Yuu Nagira.

My Beautiful Man

🥂The Ginger Ale 🥂 Team

TV Asahi

Maruya Kosuke (Yamada Ryosuke) is a 29-year-old man who has lived a charmed life. He is a much-loved and very successful member of staff who works in the sales department of a major beer manufacturer. He is blessed with good looks and a “cuteness” that has always brought him enormous popularity with women. In fact, he is so charming that women often make the first move – confessing their feelings to him almost as if they can’t help themselves. But an unexpected incident takes place one day, leading him to a terrible realization: His “cuteness” – just like beer – has an expiry date. One day, he will be just another man, without the magnetic charm he has always taken for granted!

While this is happening to Maruya Kosuke, the sales department gets a new member: A 26-year-old member of the research and development team named Izumi Sanada (Yoshine Kyoko) is transferred to Maruya Kosuke’s team. Izumi Sanada dislikes being around other people to the point of being outright antisocial. She seems emotionless when she has to interact with other people. But her almost robotic mannerisms and dislike of people come from her past experiences – which have left her with a hidden inferiority complex. Could the sparks of romance fly when Maruya Kosuke and his soon-to-expire “cuteness” crosses paths with this seemingly emotionless young woman?

“My Cuteness Is About to Expire!?” is a 2022 Japanese drama series that was directed by Takehiko Shinjo.

My Cuteness Is About to Expire!?

 🐰Super 🎠 Cute 🐹 Team

Totono Kuno (Masaki Suda) is a quiet, intelligent, highly observant, and introverted student with no friends or girlfriend. He enjoys peace and quiet and spends his time at home quietly observing the passage of the seasons and cooking curry. But the tranquillity of his daily existence is shattered one day when – while he is cooking curry – a police detective comes knocking at his door.

Totono Kuno is told that one of his classmates has been killed in a nearby park and that he is the only suspect. All of a sudden, he is forced to use all of his natural gifts to discover what really happened in order to prove his innocence. As he listens to the police’s case against him, he begins to mentally gather data that may help him clear his name. Things get more worrying still when a weapon apparently bearing his fingerprints shows up. And as well as the case he is involved in, other crimes are also taking place – with many of them requiring his attention. It looks like Totono Kuno’s formerly peaceful life will have to give way to a much more eventful way of living!

“Don’t Call it Mystery” is a 2022 Japanese drama that was directed by Hiroaki Matsuyama, Shunsuke Shinada, Hideyuki Aizawa, and Hiroyuki Abe.

Don't Call it Mystery

🧣221B Baker Street Team🕵🏻

At twenty-seven, Akiha Okada (Nana Seino) is perfectly content with her life. A successful designer at Morita Design, Akiha literally has her dream job, has a great working relationship with her colleagues, and is just as happy in her personal life as she is her professional one.&nbsp;Having endured a number of bad relationships in the past, Akiha has come to the conclusion that the single life is best, especially when she has so many friends who love and support her. The only problem is that her grandmother is constantly hounding her to get married.&nbsp;

Despite her grandmother’s wishes, Akiha is happiest on her own and is in absolutely no rush to get married. Which is why she has no qualms about rejecting Shu Momose’s (Kentaro Sakaguchi) proposal, when he offers her his hand in marriage. A diligent, reliable man, with a good job and good looks, Shu has a lot to offer a woman, but his sudden proposal to Akiha at a drinking party is nothing short of ridiculous. With his own reasons for wanting to marry, Shu sees Akiha as a means to an end, and sees no reason why he should waste any more time searching for someone else. Despite her initial rejection, Akiha finds herself reconsidering Shu’s proposal when he agrees to pay her five million yen in exchange for her hand. Knowing the money will completely change her grandmother’s life, Akiha finds herself unable to say no.&nbsp;

Now a registered married couple, Akiha and Shu find adjusting to married life is a bit more challenging than either imagined, especially when their initial feelings of indifference slowly begin to morph into something wholly unexpected. Could it be that their fake marriage is actually the path they needed to take to find true love?

A fun romantic romp, “ONLY JUST MARRIED” is a 2021 Japanese romantic comedy drama directed by Fuminori Kaneko and Kentaro Takemura.

ONLY JUST MARRIED

Love Under Contract team 

Asagi Soramame (Suzu Hirose), an energetic and bright young woman from rural Kyushu, follows her childhood friend and fiancé to Tokyo. There, she has a fateful encounter with Umino Oto (Ren Nagase), a man she never expected to meet again. After her fiancé breaks up with her, Asagi starts to find herself. Now, at 23, she and Umino find themselves living in the same boarding house. Asagi discovers a passion for fashion, while Umino struggles to make it as a composer. Despite his parents’ disapproval, he works part-time at a café to make ends meet. Meeting Asagi reignites Umino’s dream, and together, they inspire each other to pursue their passions. This is a 2023 Japanese romance drama directed by Ko Kanai.

Hold my hand at Twilight

Love in the twilight 

At twenty-eight, Junko Sakuraba’s (Satomi Ishihara) greatest dream is to live and work in New York City. Unfortunately, working as an English language school teacher isn’t getting her any closer to her dreams. As disappointed as she is at being so far from making her greatest dream come true, Junko is even more disappointed in the fact that she’s soon turning twenty-nine and still has never had a boyfriend.&nbsp;

With a funeral service to attend, Junko has little time for thoughts about dreams or men. But things take an unexpected turn when she notices a handsome monk praying at the temple. Well aware of the fact that a funeral isn’t the best time to find a guy, Junko tries to ignore him but fate decides to make things difficult. With her legs numb from kneeling so long, Junko’s attempt to stand ends in disaster when she accidentally knocks a bowl of ash from the altar on the handsome monk’s head. Mortified, Junko tries to convince herself it’s okay because she will never see him again. But fate, it would seem, has one more trick to play.

Tricked into a matchmaking session by her family, Junko arrives only to find that the other party is none other than the handsome monk, Takane Hoshikawa (Tomohisa Yamashita). Will this second meeting go better than the first or have the two been doomed from the start?

Adapted from the manga series of the same name by Miki Aihara, 5→9 From Five to Nine is a romantic comedy drama directed by Shin Hirano, Hideyuki Aizawa, and Masaki Tanimura.

5→9 From Five to Nine

⏰ From 5→9 Straight to Burnout

Sota Aoki’s (Shunsuke Michieda) life takes an unexpected turn when he borrows an eraser from his crush, Mio Hashimoto (Riko Fukumoto), only to discover she’s written another boy’s name on it. Devastated, Aoki drops the eraser, but it’s picked up by Kousuke Ida (Ren Meguro), who now mistakenly believes Aoki has a crush on him! As Aoki scrambles to clarify the situation, he finds himself caught in a whirlwind of romantic misunderstandings and comedic chaos. Will Aoki manage to set things straight with Ida, or will this mix-up lead to surprising new connections? This 2021 Japanese romantic comedy drama was directed by Shogo Kusano and Tadaaki Horai and was adapted from the manga of the same name by Wataru Hinekure.

My Love Mix-Up!

Lend Me Your Eraser Team💛💙

In order to deal with a rise in crime and unusual deaths, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare launches a new forensics agency. The agency is named the Unnatural Death Institute, or UDI for short. The ministry appoints Yasuo Kamikura (Matsushige Yutaka), a veteran politician and former high-ranking official at the ministry as the UDI’s Director.

The star of his team is Mikoto Misumi (Satomi Ishihara), a 33-year-old female forensics expert who has conducted autopsies on over 1500 bodies. She will be working alongside her lab assistant Shoji Yuko (Ichikawa Mikako) and Kei Nakado (Arata Iura), an older, male forensics expert. Along with a team that also comprises a technician and a recorder, the UDI is tasked to investigate a range of baffling deaths. These include an apparent suicide that isn’t quite what it seems, a “poisoning” case involving an apparent heart disease victim...and more! Will Mikoto Misumi and the gang solve all the mysteries that come before them?

“Unnatural” is a 2018 Japanese drama series that was directed by Tsukahara Ayuko, Takemura Kentaro, and Murao Yoshiaki.

Unnatural

🧬 Mysterious Murders 🧬

Principled gossip magazine reporter Satoshi Onoe (Keito Kimura) clashes with his polar opposite – the slobby photographer Motoharu Kaburagi (Yamanaka Jyutaro) – when they are forced to work on celebrity stakeouts together. As they strive to catch exclusive scoops, their rivalry gradually gives way to unexpected romantic feelings. Will their tension escalate, or is an unlikely workplace love story on the horizon? This 2022 Japanese drama was based on a hit manga series by Isaku Natsume and was directed by Tomoyuki Furumaya.

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