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 after witnessing a doctor’s heroic act, rookie nurse Sakura Nanase (Mone Kamishiraishi) joins the same hospital, only to find out that her idol, Dr. Kairi Tendo (Takeru Satoh), is a cold perfectionist. Despite his harsh demeanor, Sakura’s relentless dedication and open affection begin to soften his heart. As she endeavors to prove her worth and win him over, the clash between her optimism and his cynicism becomes a test of love and perseverance. Will Sakura's unwavering commitment turn this cold-hearted doctor into a believer in love? This 2020 Japanese romantic comedy drama was adapted from the manga by Maki Enjoji, and was directed by Fuminori Kaneko, Ryosuke Fukuda, and Kenta Tanaka.

An Incurable Case of Love

Fuji TV

Eight years after a heart-wrenching breakup, Tsumugi Aoba (Haruna Kawaguchi) unexpectedly reunites with her first love, Sou Sakura (Ren Meguro), only to discover he’s lost most of his hearing. As their shared love for music rekindles old feelings, Tsumugi is drawn back into Sou’s world, now silent and full of unspoken emotions. With fate giving them a second chance, Tsumugi must find a way to navigate the challenges of Sou’s new reality while reigniting the love they once had. Will their bond overcome the silence, or will the past keep them apart forever? This is a 2022 Japanese romance drama directed by Hiroki Kazama.

Silent

The Sound of Love Team

Tsukushi Makino (Mao Inoue), a quiet student at the elite Eitoku Academy, clashes with Tsukasa Domyouji (Jun Matsumoto), a key member of the “Flower Four” or “F4” gang, made up of devilishly handsome bullies sons of some of Japan’s richest businesspeople. The F4 orchestrates bullying campaigns aimed at forcing students they don’t like out of the academy. However, Tsukushi refuses to be pushed around and berates Tsukasa. This has unexpected consequences, leading both Tsukasa and his fellow F4 member Rui Hanazawa (Shun Oguri) to fall for her. Will love save the day – and might romance help teach F4 the error of its ways? This 2005 Japanese drama series was based on a hit manga series by Yoko Kamio and 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). Hira 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 thriving in her career and personal life but faces relentless pressure from her grandmother to marry. Content with her single status, Akiha rejects a proposal from Shu Momose (Kentaro Sakaguchi), a reliable yet unromantic suitor. However, when her grandmother's restaurant faces bankruptcy, Akiha finds herself in a surprising arrangement with Shu, who offers her five million yen to marry him. As their fake marriage unfolds, Akiha and Shu must navigate the unexpected challenges of their new life together. What starts as a business deal begins to transform into something far deeper, revealing that their unorthodox union might be the key to finding true love. This 2021 Japanese romantic comedy drama was 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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