 Ace wo Nerae! [エースをねらえ!]
okay [Rating: 6/10]
I enjoyed this drama a little mainly for the lesbianic undertones between Oka Hiromi and Ryuuzaki Reika. the tennis shots are fake but Aya isn't all that bad in this drama.
Munakata Jin falling in love with Hiromi was a little over the top though.
Sakai Ayana is lovely as Midorikawa Ranko.
The SP wasnt bad, but a little over the top with the Hiromi going off to learn from a master of tennis..etc. |  Ai No Uta [あいのうた]
Not that bad [Rating: 6/10]
A mild heart-warming drama with a lot of sappy scenes. It's about a girl played by Kanno Miho who grows up being unloved by her mother and decides to try and commit suicide when she's an adult, but she survives and is rescued into a happy family.
Kanno Miho and Wakui Emi outdo each other in the cuteness factor. However, Wakui Emi has a screen presence that was slightly above Kanno.
Everything else about the drama was so-so. Watch it if you're a fan of Kanno Miho or Wakui Emi! |
Anego [アネゴ]
Not bad [Rating: 7/10]
This drama was engaging from the beginning but I didn't buy the attempted love storylines. Kurozawa and Noda hooking up didn't work, since Kurozawa wasn't compatible with Noda. The overall cast was good. Toda Naho is a beautiful actress who hasn't been seen in dramas enough. Tomosaka Rie is also a fav of mine, but I didn't like the character she played here. Yamaguchi Sayaka wasnt used well since she's very pretty and could have had a better role.
The ageism thing is a little old. Too often women over 30 get flak if they aren't married in Japan. Anego sends mixed messages about this regarding marriage and happiness, or being single and happy. |  Around 40 [アラウンド40]
okay [Rating: 5/10]
This drama is for women around forty... (not specifically) Amami Yuki plays a psychiatrist with no love life. Matsushita Yuki plays a housewife who gets bored. Otsuka Nene ends up with a rich husband who she later dumps. Tsutsui Michitaka, from one of my favorite dramas, Asunaro Hakusho, shows up. He looks around forty now too.
It's watchable but a little boring. Nothing happens in this that I haven't seen in another jdorama. |
 Asunaro hakusho [あすなろ白書]
Classic [Rating: 9/10]
Story revolves around a group of friends who love one another basically.
Classic dorama. This has what most of the dramas these days lack; I won't name anything exactly, so watch it for yourself and decide! A lot of the 90s dramas are better in general. KimuTaku doesn't act all that different in the early days of his acting career. I gave it a 9 because of how the death of Nishijima Hidetoshi's character was handled. |  Attack No.1 [アタック No.1]
not good [Rating: 4/10]
this drama seems to be similar to Ace wo Nerae!. But volleyball is the subject, and the drama is a little different from the tennis title.
I stopped watching this drama after a few episodes because of the coach, Inokuma Daigo, who was just very bad. the actor wasn't bad, but the character was.
The only thing I enjoyed was Ayana Sakai. |
 Attention Please [アテンションン プリース]
short attention span [Rating: 4/10]
This drama is close to being like the title theme song of the series "pretty woman". aya ueto plays a girl with little manners and a wild attitude and she ends up being a cabin attendant. together with her two girlfriends and the other stewardesses who make fun of them she obnoxiously goes through JAL's training program, and learns how to be more of a proper lady with the aid of an older stewardess who does a good Akutsu Maya (Jyoou no Kyoushitsu) impression.
While I enjoyed maybe the first few episodes, the rest of the series was very boring and predictable. Even the special was pretty lame. Aya Ueto is overrated. A slightly older actress would have been better suited, but the show wouldn't have been much better. |  Beach boys [ビーチボーイズ]
Not bad [Rating: 7/10]
Teaming up two leading men - Takenouchi and Sorimachi I thought this drama wouldn't work, but it turned out not bad. I liked the friendship that grew between them. |
 Bokura no yuuki ~miman toushi~ [ぼくらの勇氣 ~未滿都市~]
good [Rating: 8/10]
What happens when a meteor falls in a city, infects the city with a virus, and kills off all the adults leaving the children alive? What happens when the government quarantines the city and doesn't tell anyone else that the children are alive?
You won't see dramas like this these days. Enjoyed every episode. Hosho Mai is memorable in this one, as is young Matsumoto Jun. |  CHANGE
. [Rating: 8/10]
I think the main point of this series is that by pulling some strings, people get into powerful positions. It was thanks to Kanbayashi's political influence that helped Asakura into power. Kanbayashi was said to be the real Souri behind the scenes, but he doesn't have the power of Souri. However, this invokes many conspiracy theories that high offices can be (and are) controlled and corrupted. In this case, Asakura is out of Kanbayashi's control. Kanbayashi doesn't like it so he wants to bring Asakura down with more political maneuvering. Maybe a pop quote by Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show would work here: "I brought you into this world, and I'll take you out."
Change has an excellent cast. Maybe too good? Love Rosa, but they could've done better with her character. Ishiguro Ken is here, whom I always recognize from Shomuni as Ukyo . Even cute Takahashi Yumiko made a guest appearance! She played Rie in Shomuni! I love when I see the Shomuni girls. This is the second time I've seen Nishimura Masahiko in a drama about a Prime Minister -- Souri to Yobanaide. (At least Change touched on some issues compared to that drama.) And theres the man himself, Abe Hiroshi. My head would've exploded if Nakama Yukie made an appearance with him. Playing Asakura's mother is Fuji Junko, who I thought gave a bland performance.
I think it could've been written better, therefore I can't give this drama a perfect score. A drama with this much star power has to be given much consideration. There's a couple unnecessary lines and maybe scenes here and there. They tried too hard to make Asakura look like a noble kid who has taken office. The chemistry with the beautiful Fukatsu Eri and KimuTaku was a high point. |
Dare yori mo mama wo aisu [誰よりもままを愛す]
effeminate series [Rating: 4/10]
First watched when it was in the middle of the series. The most surprising plot of the show was the older straight son falling in love with a gay guy. The rest of it is about Masakazu 's character playing mother to everyone. | Doriimu Agein [ドリーム☆アゲイン]
wth [Rating: 4/10]
Ogi Shunsuke is a baseball player who loses the big game, then wants to make his comeback. Before he does, he dies. In Japanese heaven, the Ministry of Heaven made a mistake by killing Ogi. Ogi's guide, Tanaka, gives Ogi a second chance at life and baseball but he has to live life in another body because his was cremated.
Sorimachi does his best despite a predictable and bad script. The acting was fine.
Watch "Wonderful Life" instead.
Cast list on JDORAMA is wrong. I'd give this series a higher rating if Harada Natsuki was in an episode. |
 Dragon Zakura [ドラゴン桜]
Is Todai the only option? [Rating: 5/10]
From the start I was engaged with Abe Hiroshi's cool attitude, but he didn't come across like any kind of lawyer. His character is a little like Ueda from Trick, but less quirky and super confident in his ability to snap the students and teachers into shape. It starts to annoy a little.
Hiroshi's character presses the students into studying for Todai University because no one from the school thinks about going, and the school he tried to help is considered an bad one. Reality is hard on some, but Sakuragi Kenji makes it clear Todai is the only option by calling the students stupid and cheated out of their futures. And because of this no one wants to join his class. He has to "make a deal" with Tajima Yuusuke by paying off his family debt in order for him to join. Yoshino, Maki and Hideki join afterwards for no real reason. Masami's character joins later because of her fears about her life after high school.
Hasegawa Kyoko's acting isn't any different from her other roles.
Masami, Yui and Saeko are all pretty, but maybe one of them could have been enough for the show? They developed Masami's character better too.
A nice character change for Nogiwa Yoko, who's spent a lot of time in kimonos in most of her dramas.
This drama isn't a drama; more like a motivational series for high schoolers to go to college. Watch it if you really have nothing else. Pretty boring. |  Egao no Hosoku [笑顔の法則]
not bad [Rating: 8/10]
Enjoyable and down-to-Earth. Abe Hiroshi and Takeuchi Yuko mesh well. I thought they would add some romance into it from the picture and description, but it stayed at a friendship.
First time seeing Sakurai Atsuko act different from her recognizable role in "Shomuni". She was given more personality in this one. Other "Shomuni" cast member Takahashi Katsumi (Terasaki) is in this one too. The character he plays in this one is forgettable.
Watch ;) |
Enka no Joou [演歌の女王 (えんか の じょおう)]
Ehh [Rating: 4/10]
Boring. Amami Yuki is charming as Ookouchi Himawari but all she does is fix other people's problem, seeming to go against her better self when she talks to her younger version played by Fukuda Mayuko. What's up with that anyway?
Dont bother watching. Watch Jyoou no Kyoushitsu instead. | Erai Tokoro ni Totsuide Shimatta! [エラいところに嫁いでしまった!]
Relies on Trick [Rating: 5/10]
By the third episode it started to feel like watching Trick: Kimiko acts like Yamada Naoko, and in a foollish way, Isojiro is a little like Ueda. Kimiko and Isojiro's marriage is just a good friendship, rather than a loving wife and husband, as Kimiko explains... so why did they get married in the first place? The minor characters are unusual like Trick too.
There are a few laughs with Yukie's character, but this is mostly because the character is like Naoko! |
Erai Tokoro ni Totsuide Shimatta! [エラいところに嫁いでしまった!]
Relies on Trick [Rating: 5/10]
By the third episode it started to feel like watching Trick: Kimiko acts like Yamada Naoko, and in a foollish way, Isojiro is a little like Ueda. Kimiko and Isojiro's marriage is just a good friendship, rather than a loving wife and husband, as Kimiko explains... so why did they get married in the first place? The minor characters are unusual like Trick too.
There are a few laughs with Yukie's character, but this is mostly because the character is like Naoko! | First Kiss [ファースト・キス]
gah [Rating: 3/10]
Mio has heart problems. She moves back to Japan to stay with her brother and his friends. You think they could come up with something good with a beginning like this, but nope. Matsuyuki Yasuko is brought back into t.v dramas - too bad her character is boring. So underused!
Stay away from this unless you want to sleep. |
First Love
Good [Rating: 8/10]
At first I had trouble understanding Tomoko's motivation with getting involved with Nao, then it was obvious it was envy over her sister, etc.... Wakui Emi is a very good actress. She was the best character in this drama.
This is one drama where Fukada Kyoko's clueless acting comes to the fore: she looks like she doesn't have a brain in her head. But she pulls off a kind of carefree innocence that works.
Watabe Atsuro is one of my favs. He does good, though not an outstanding performance. The script does an odd reversals his occupations. One scene was a bit too melodramatic. Nao watches Kasumi walk away and the camera does a extreme close up while he forces tears out of his eyes. It was a bit too much considering years had passed since Kasumi and Nao began their relationship in high school.
It's a drama you can appreciate next to what gets made these days. | Five [ファイブ]
Good but not great [Rating: 8/10]
I dont know. There are things that made this drama bad, but made it good at the same time. I enjoyed the acting all around especially from Sasai Eisuke character. I love Tomosaka Rie since watching this series.
The stories from start and just up towards the end is like an American spy series, like Alias or something. But when the dying starts the end of the series is laughable and bad attempt at these five women's unshakeable bond. |
 Fukigen na Jiin [不機嫌なジーン]
a little weird [Rating: 6/10]
An offbeat comedy/romance I guess. Yuko plays Gene/Jinko/Aoi/insertname, and seems to be torn between Takashi and Kenichi with her study of insects thrown in.
It's a cast-bloated drama with a unfocused and strange script. Uchino Masaaki's character takes up too much scene time. Odagiri Joe seems out of place. The directing is good. It's not Yuko's best role.
Suggest watching only if you're bored. | Galileo [ガリレオ]
ho-hum [Rating: 7/10]
Seems like a scientific version of "Trick" with little comedy. Shibasaki plays a cop. Strange crimes happen and then she gets help from a scientist played by Fukuyama who helps solve the case by finding the science behind it, usually disproving any paranormal activity. A number of j-guest stars show up in the episodes.
It was boring but still watchable. Nothing excited me about it. The scientists are corny. I love Shibasaki in just about every role she plays. |
 Gokusen [ごくせん]
Good [Rating: 5/10]
Nakama Yukie is cute to watch but... I don't like the comical-ness of it. |  Gokusen 2 [ごくせん２]
Not good [Rating: 4/10]
Agreeing with earlier reviews, this is a clone of Gokusen but worse than the first season. Nakama Yukie is cute to watch but... I don't like the comical-ness of it. |
 H2~Kimi to itahibi [２〜君といた日々]
zzz [Rating: 6/10]
It's watchable. But I started skipping through episodes after the first episode: like those parts where a character like Haruka analyzes Hiro's pitching skills during practice/game or the Hikari scenes. The love triangle was boring. The Hiro character was less-to-be desired. Hard to believe this came from a producer who helped make a masterpiece like Keizoku. | Haken no Hinkaku [ハケンの品格]
Ehh [Rating: 5/10]
This drama is really just Super Shinohara Ryoko saves the day. Cute and funny in some parts, but overall the character and series is too stiff. Amami Yuki could have pulled a role like this off better. I'd enjoy watching Kato Ai's character have her own series.
Watch if you have nothing else to watch. |
Hanayome to Papa [花嫁とパパ]
okay [Rating: 6/10]
For five episodes the series seems to be about Aiko's controlling father who cant admit his daughter growing up. Also there's Aiko's budding relationship with the dapperly annoying Mirua-kun. A few episodes concentrate on her job with Narumi Shunichi, for little reason other than Aiko doesn't want to marry Mirua-kun so she can help her boss first. The remaining episodes are about if Aiko and Mirua-kun will get married...0_o
Ishihara Satomi is one of the cutest girls around and she's perfect for this role. The character was too angelic however.
The father, Uzaki Kentaro, was a little creepy during the first 5 episodes.
Wakui Emi does a good job as usual in her supporting role.
It's not bad for a watch. | Hanayome wa Yakudoshi! [花嫁は厄年ッ！]
Not bad, funny too [Rating: 7/10]
This drama stars Shinohara Ryoko as Taketomi Akiko top news anchor who's lost her position to a younger and prettier anchor. So having lost that, she's back to doing hard reporting. She gets into a plan with her boss/producer friend Takahashi Hiroshi and somewhat with Azuchi Ichiro to go spy on the Azuchi family farm, by pretending to be Ichiro's future wife.
So she puts cameras everywhere and tapes people and people eventually find out she's a fake bride. Everyone hates her, then Akiko wins their affections back and then they accept her. I didn't buy Azuchi Ichiro suddenly wanting to marry Akiko, since they seemed like friends in on a scheme. Also Yabe Hiroyuki plays the character like a cold fish annoyed with his life. The drama drags a little bit in the later episodes.
The supporting characters are good. Azuchi Yukie, being the formal head of the Azuchi house, and her relationship with Akiko seemed a lot deeper than anything else.
Ozawa Maju's character was funny doing her comical relief as she plots to push Akiko out and take over the Azuchi farm for herself.
I wanted to criticize Shinohara Ryoko a little, but she does a decent job in this series. |
 Hero
ehh [Rating: 5/10]
I liked the office flirting with Hiroshi and Otsuka's characters. The overall storyline with Kuriyu and partner Amamiya wasn't good. |  Hoshi no kinka 2 / Zoku hoshi no kinka [續。星の金貨]
Great [Rating: 10/10]
All the characters were great to watch. Again, the melodrama drew me in. Sawamura Ikki and Toda Naho made this work very well. Also fell in love with Toda Naho since ;) |
hoteriaa [ホテリアー]
Okay.. [Rating: 6/10]
This drama is set around a hotel and how they go about running the hotel. They try to save the hotel from a rich guy who wants to buy it and tear it down. There’s some cheap melodrama thrown in with the cast, as well as sucking up to customers, and they all love the hotel. I’m sure the Korean version was better.
It's okay but a little boring. |  Hotman [ホットマン]
almost [Rating: 9/10]
A family drama about a group of siblings with different fathers living under the same roof. The head of the household, Enzo, is the older brother who has a cute daughter, Nanami, who has a skin disease which breaks out into uncontrollable itching. Despite Enzo pampering his kawaii child, it's not bad.
The doctors all give bad advice. One doctor says to isolate Nanami because of her stress and give her independence from her family. Independence at age 5???
In episode 7, Nanami wakes up without a sound right when her big sister leaves. Later in episode 7, she doesn't wake at all when Enzo screams at his siblings to get out of the house. Enzo wasn't mature enough to ask them to leave for their own good in a better way, but he was mature when it came to talking with his siblings about their fire damaged home and what they were going to do next before that?
The cast is very good, especially Yada Akikko. It's a good drama despite problems with the Enzo character IMO. |
 Hotman 2 [ホットマン2]
not as good as 1 [Rating: 6/10]
Not the best move by switching actresses. Manami Konishi was the character of Shima. It's like putting another actor in Sorimachi's place as Enzo. Misaki Itoh does nothing for the role, so why did they switch? Manami had a delicate presence as Shima and made a character who acted in a motherly and polite manner. Misaki often looks bored and she whines in the role of Shima, even though Shima is still written as the mother figure. Minami would've made a majority of the scenes better, especially ones like where Nanami lies and tells other children Shima is her mother.
I was also disappointed with Yada Akiko's character gone because would have been nice to see Misuzu helping to raise Nanami as a stepmother. Misuzu's sweet nature was missing too. The writers couldn't resolve Misuzu and Enzo's relationship, so it was simply tossed away with a mention in episode 1 or 2. If they *had* to break the two up for this series, they could've done it in the first episode. Minus 2 points for Hotman 2!
Ichigo asks Nanami about their family fighting in an earlier episode, and Nanami answers they always make up after they do, or something along those lines. Then in episode 8, Nanami says that because Shima is gone, everyone is fighting. Yeah, but, it doesn't make a difference if Shima was there or not because the siblings are always fighting about something. Enzo even yells at Shima in the first or second episode about not telling him about their mom's house is now for sale.
There's still some cute moments thanks to Nanami and Ichigo early on, but it gets tedious in later episodes when Ichigo returns. Enzo is more of a hothead than last season, overprotective of Nanami. Ayame wasn't bad despite being Misuzu's replacement. Abe Asami's character was cute, but no match for the cuter Sawajiri Erika from season 1 IMO.
After watching Hotman 1 and 2 back-to-back, I can't stand the Enzo character, or much more of this series. But Hotman 1 is the better of the two. |  Ichi Ritoru no Namida [１リットルの涙]
Gets a 7 [Rating: 7/10]
Got no tears from me. Parts of this drama reminds me of American after school specials. The series lacks some medical and parental sense where Aya is concerned, which reflects badly for the real people involved, if the series followed the life of the real girl. Erika-sama seems too cute to portray Aya. In general, the series could've been better. They could've labeled scenes with "cry now" they were so easy to spot.
I eat up dramas as fast as I get them, but each episode of this series made me forget to watch the next lol. Overrated drama. |
 Iguana no musume [イグアナの娘]
Pretty good [Rating: 9/10]
A fairytale story about a woman being an iguana princess, but forgets she was an iguana when turned into a human, and for the rest of her human life sees her daughter as an iguana. But the reality of the story is about a mother who is unloving towards her daughter and still the mother and daughter have a very strong connection because of the curse that exists between them.
Very good drama; slightly depressing with a little twist at the end. This was the role that put Kanno Miho on the map. Kawashima Naomi does a great job too. |  Ikebukuro West Gate Park [池袋ウエストゲートパーク]
Pretty good [Rating: 9/10]
IWGP gives a charasmatic look at Japanese inner city youth. I thought the directing was excellant and the script was thoughtful and funny. This is one of those series you can watch more than once. No real problems with the story. I found a scene in one of the later episodes, I think it was "the longest day", too melodramatic. Gives a 9. Watch! |
 Itazura na Kiss [イタズラなKiss]
Irie-kun x 1000 [Rating: 6/10]
If you didnt know a single word in Japanese, you will after you hear "Irie-kun" a thousand times while watching this drama... o_O
The story isn't that bad and all the actors do well. Dont take it too seriously.I thought Ozawa Maju (younger & cuter) was good. Nakama Yukie was so cute! | Jotei [女帝]
Good for what it is [Rating: 9/10]
Tachibana Ayaka played by Kato Rosa sets out to be empress of the hostess club scene. Along the way she gets into jealous cat fights with top hostesses and becomes the subject of near scandals with politicians.
Coming into this drama I was expecting to be disappointed, but it turned out to be a nice change. Only major qualm I had was the Ayaka/Naoto relationship which didn't convince me from the start. Overall, Jotei is an entertaining melodrama. |
Jyoou no Kyoushitsu [女王の教室]
Great [Rating: 10/10]
Amami Yuki gives a chilling and wonderful performance as a strict elementary school teacher. All of the younger actors and actresses do a great job too. The specials with this series really explained why the teacher was so strict, which was also written and acted very well. | Karei naru Ichizoku [華麗なる一族]
Enjoyable [Rating: 8/10]
The drama is set in the 60s but keeps a retro feel to it.
Kimutaku's character Teppei is in conflict with his father, Daisuke. Daisuke wants to merge his bank with some others but Teppei's business gets in his way. The two square off and the Manpyou family starts to unravel to a melodramatic soundtrack. Steve Conte's song played a little too much. (I'm not sure if it was Steve, but the music sounded like him).
The acting was a little off with some of the characters imo, but otherwise it was good. |
Kiken na Aneki [危険なアネキ]
uhh [Rating: 4/10]
This drama is stupid but not annoyingly stupid. It's almost like an anime. You know the anime story: a cute but loveable girl makes everyone crazy for her. There's one guys who's obsessed (Ikuo) and then her brother who hates her at first but then loves her. Everyone else loves her too because she's on a mission to revive Minagawa Saki.
The only thing worth watching is a brief love triangle with Eikura Nana, Shaku Yumiko, and Hiraoka Yuuta's characters. |  Koi Seyo Otome [恋セヨ乙女]
easy to watch [Rating: 7/10]
I felt like I was watching a 30 minute infomercial or something. It's one of those all-you-can-eat community dramas with bad character development. But... most of the episodes had some cute scenes which kept me watching. The performance that stands out is Kurasawa Katsuhiro. Even when he looks normal he looks like he's going to laugh, which makes me want to laugh. |
Konya Hitori no Beddo de [今夜ひとりのベッドで]
Dull [Rating: 4/10]
This drama revolves around four characters, none of which have much chemistry with each other.
The lead character isn't likeable and he seems to bungle his way into a relationship with his brother's ex-wife Azusa. This relationship is a little dull as well as Azusa doesn't care that the lead, Akiyuki, is married to Yu, and wants to steal him. Ryo, Akiyuki's brother, seems to immediately set his sights on whatever girl comes along, even leaving Azusa at the alter in the
first episode to run off with another girl. When hes with the other girl, he hits on Yu and starts to come between Yu and Akiyuki on purpose. Its not believable.
Seto Asaka's character Yu is averagely likeable. Okina Megumi's character Azuza is mildly interesting. The other characters, including the male leads, arent fun to watch. And Ive only seen up to the 5th episode. |  Kurosagi [クロサギ]
watchable [Rating: 7/10]
Kurosagi is a jerk. "Yamapi" nails the part if thats what he was trying to pull off because I felt no sympathy for Kurosagi, even after his traumatic past.
I thought Horikita Maki did a great Job. Ichikawa Yui's character wasn't needed.
The series has what Liar Game didn't imo. It's not annoying and so it's watchable.
Wakaba (Harada Natsuki) is in episode 7!! So I give this series a 7. :) |
 Kyousoukyoku [協奏曲]
Good [Rating: 8/10]
Oh the roles I've seen Tamura Masakazu, he usually has the same manner, but he's still one of those actors who never fails to deliver despite it. The storyline was good, and I thought the bonding between the characters was nice. When watching the opening credits, I thought the three characters would end up living together at some point... would be cool to see a special. |  Last Friends [ラスト・フレンズ]
ok [Rating: 7/10]
A group of friends who all have secrets. Michiru is beaten by her boyfriend and she lacks the will to get away from him, so her friends save her a few times. Ruka is a butch lesbian -- or a lesbian who is masculine. She considers a sex change. She loves Michiru but keeps her feelings secret. Takeru is maybe gay, or just scarred by a sexual encounter with his sister. Takigawa Eri is seeing dorky Ogura Tomohiko...
The most complex character is the badboy, Oikawa Sosuke, who's obsession with Michiru leads him to controlling her with violence. The part was perfectly casted with Nishikido in the role.
The drama is somewhat nauseating overall. They're all a group of weirdos. It was good enough to keep watching though. |
Love and Eros [ラブとエロス]
Good [Rating: 7/10]
The drama was good for the most part except for the last episode. It was like like putting horseradish on brownies. Bad conclusion to the series. |  Love generation [ラブジェネレーション]
Great [Rating: 10/10]
There was nothing to not like about this drama. Perfectly scripted romance with the actors performing effortlessly. Even I think there's more between KimuTaku and Matsu Takako than what's on screen. Lovely chemistry between them. Must watch! |
 Mahiru no tsuki [真晝の月]
has flaws but good [Rating: 7/10]
Tokako Tokiwa's character, Yamashita Mae, is raped and has to learn how to deal with the aftermath. Gradually Oda Yuji's character, Naoki, is the growing love interest who figures out that she has been raped when they were supposed to meet on a date. It's a serious drama but has flaws.
In episode 3, Naoki says he "wont touch" Mae until she gives him permission. Also, Mae has problems with being around men or having men touch her from previous scenes. So what happens after Naoki says that? They show Mae getting into a stuffed subway car with MEN and she has little problem with it! Later she has another flashback/freaksout of the rape - that occurred at night while she was going home alone on her bike btw - while riding in a van with Naoki in the middle of the day on the way to Disneyland...?
Later in episode 8 it seems Mae develops a form of claustrophobia? and almost gets her and Naoki beat up by thugs. The point is if she can stand to be in a packed subway car with men, then she can stand to be quiet for a few minutes in an empty warehouse while hiding with the man who loves her.
Iijima Naoko plays a nurse who tries to help Mae deal with her rape. She shines in most dramas she's in. | Musashi [武蔵]
Very good [Rating: 9/10]
This was the first Taiga drama I sat down and watched. Some of the best Jdorama actors and actresses were in this and I knew the acting was going to be superb.
Ichikawa Shinnosuke gives a excellant portrayal of Musashi. I swear, if you never knew who Musashi was, you will after this series, and you'll recognize this actor when you see him.
I could spend paragraphs writing on all the actors character portrayals, but in short I'll say that yes, they were all good.
I would have given this series a ten but I got a little bored with Musashi running back and forth trying to save his friends at times. Also the "magic" scenes with Akaneya Genzo and Aya strays from reality of the series, but it was entertaining anyway. This series would have been excellent if not censored. |
Nanisama! [なにさまっ！]
eh [Rating: 6/10]
Despite today's recognizable cast members, this drama is a little flat. It's mostly about a career woman Sawaki Izumi/Yamada Yoneko who lives a duel life between home and career and Sakamaki Futaro who obsesses about her and tries to be her friend.
I felt Kishitani Goro was a miscast here. The series needed a younger looking actor. Nagashima Kazushige's character was a little too stereotypical. The rest of the cast was good. I particularly like Shinohara Ryoko and Takeuchi Yuko in this one. Also, Atsuro Watabe brought a lot of energy to the series too.
This drama is forgettable. I had watched it months ago and forgot, then watched again, then after the sixth episode, remembered I had already watched it! |  Narita rikon [成田離婚]
good but not great [Rating: 6/10]
i thought this drama started off good but went a little downhill towards the end. Kusanagi Tsuyoshi's anger spats with Seto Asaka were a little overreacted. not sure why they introduced Kawamura Ryuichi's character and they could have done more with Fukatsu Eri. the plot points on why the two main characters broke up was silly when explained by the other characters in the series although it did have some funny moments. |
 Nemureru mori [眠れる森]
Good [Rating: 8/10]
This was a good suspense drama. The characters were good and I was tuned into each episode. Up around the 8th episode, I knew who the main villian was going to be though. It played out good, except for the part where they never explained Kiichirou's mother appearing before Masateru. | Oishii puropozu [おいしいプロポーズ]
okay [Rating: 5/10]
About a woman, Suzuko Shiraishi, who is a chef at a Italian restaurant. Everything's fine until the restaurant is bought by another company. The company sends Katsuragi Haruki to tell them he's going to close the restaurant, but Suzuko convinces him otherwise.
The script was okay. In the beginning it seemed like a comedy/romance, but it changed as the series went on. At least Nishimura is a comedic genius in his scenes, on-par with roles in other dramas. |
 Omiai kekkon [お見合い結婚]
eh [Rating: 4/10]
A good first episode but later episodes drag. Santamaria and Takako have little chemistry after the first episode. Also, Santamaria didn't suit this role. The subplots surrounding their friends get in the way. Could have been done better. |  Otousan [おとうさん]
good but.. [Rating: 8/10]
I had a few problems with the character arcs.
Makoto has a fight with Otosan and wants to live alone with her loser boyfriend while working as a nurse. The head nurse pushes her around and tells her to quit later. Thanks to her sisters help, she gets rid of her boyfriend and goes back home to work with her Otosan. The two seem to make-up from their fight in the first episodes. Then says she wants to be a nurse again at the end. Why? Her arc was well done up to that point.
Akira (Nakatani Miki) wants to share in her boyfriend’s dream working in stage drama, leaves the soba shop to marry her boyfriend, then goes back to the shop when she can’t get along with her husband. Did she give up too easily?
Kei (Fukada Kyoko) had the weakest arc. She thinks she doesn’t want to play piano, then goes back to it, and to the boyfriend she was going to marry on whim from the first few episodes. Kei wanted to force the marriage in the beginning and in the end. I didn’t buy their relationship.
Otosan’s love interest, Tama-chan, runs away from Shiro most of the drama. They get together at the end (like we didn't see that one coming.)
Yu (Iijima Naoko) was the only character that had a good arc. She learned how to be independent and to understand how to be a better mother. Yu’s little boy wants to live with her at the end. |
 Pretty Girls [プリティガール]
:p [Rating: 1/10]
This story was so bad. The ending was just a joke. But it did have one or two nice scenes. |  Proposal Daisakusen [プロポーズ大作戦]
drags on forever [Rating: 4/10]
With the help of a church/wedding fairy, Iwase Ken relives moments from his past so he can score points with his long time girlfriend Yoshida Rei. In the past, he missed Rei’s signals of affection. Now she’s getting married and he realizes he loves her.
A teen comedy with all the pass'e school moments. All of the characters are conventional. Didn’t like the Ken character. Skip it. |
 rinbukyoku [輪舞曲]
okay [Rating: 6/10]
This is a typical police/action drama that might've made a better movie than a series. The acting is top-notch but the script isn't all that great. Drags after the sixth episode, but the plot twist was good. |  Ruri no shima [瑠璃の島]
Ehh [Rating: 7/10]
Ruri is a foster child who moves onto an island to help save the island from closing. I thought this drama would solely concentrate on Ruri, played by the Narumi Riko, who looks older than she is and is pretty. But, the drama concentrates more on the island's inhabitants. This was disappointing. The series also suffers from cast-bloat, which can be found in many doramas.
You can watch but it's not good enough to keep watching in my opinion. |
Sailor Fuku to Kikanju [セーラー服と機関銃]
not bad but... [Rating: 5/10]
A drama about a girl who becomes the head of a Yakuza gang. A good first episode, but turned a little more comical in later episodes. When Tstsumi’s character shot but survives with the help of a yen coin the show loses a little credibility. Don’t know why Kyoko Koizumi is in this -- she's a top drama actress. Kyoko and Masami share a small resemblance though. Masami is very cute as the lead too. | Sapuri [サプリ]
Not bad [Rating: 6/10]
Not bad, but I felt like I was watching a long advertisement. Some have compared this to Anego so I'll go ahead and say I liked the parings here better than the other drama. The characters here mix better than Shinohara and Akanishi's characters. Sapuri has a good cast and a good subplot going with father and daughter, Imaoka and Natsuki. I wasn't thrilled with Minami/Yuya/Satoshi triangle but I wasn't dissatisfied either. I thought Minami dumping Satoshi was a highlight, but that became dismal when she considered his later proposal after Yuya was gone.
The drama gets too into the office lives, with characters sitting around coming up with flashy CMs for a number of episodes. So this drama has flashy outfits, good looking people, catchy theme song: an advertisement for a good drama, but not a good drama. |
 Shomuni [ショムニ]
Naho...! [Rating: 10/10]
Shomuni is where all the bad girls of the company go when their not wanted. And all of them are the heroines of the company!
Esumi Makiko is sexy in her role. I loved it when she looked into the camera and said her lines. She fits perfect.
I was in Toda Naho heaven in this drama! She so beautiful when she looks into the camera too. The rivalry she has with Esumi's character is classic.
This drama is a great parody of working in a corporate office. And they did more than one season! Watch it!!! |  Shomuni 2 [ショムニ 2]
More Naho..! [Rating: 10/10]
Not sure if it's better than the first season, but it's just as good. Naho and Esumi are so hot! And for those who are new to the series and are watching this season first, it's a corporate parody about five OLs who help keep the company afloat. |
 Shomuni Final [ショムニ ファイナル/庶務二課]
Good [Rating: 8/10]
It's not as good as Shomuni 1 and 2 but it holds its own. Some scenes are over-exaggerated and I caught a joke between Sugita and Chinatsu ripped from an earlier season. One or two episodes are contrived and not all of the girls have episodes centered around them: I think there were only three.
More Naho! Naho is hot. Mai, Yumiko and Kotomi look much cuter in this season. Don't know if I'll ever get to see any of specials since they came out a few years back. | Souri to yobanai de [総理と呼ばないで]
so-so [Rating: 6/10]
The drama is about an arrogant prime minister, his bad public approval ratings, and his administration's PR attempts to bolster his position. In a frivolous act of redeeming the character, the ending saw the premier take the blame for a money scandal. They tacked on the, "he's upending the system" line for the reason he took the blame, which isn't true since the premier can be simply leave office in disgrace and a new premier can take over, even from the same political party. So Tamura's character "upended" or sacrificed his own premier-ship since he was sinking anyway - his zero approval ratings and the threats of no confidence votes in earlier episodes - the reason for the PR.
Tsuruta Mayu saves much of the drama playing the maid. Nishimura wasn't as funny as he is in other dramas, but does a good dramatic performance. Suzuki Honami is cute here too. |
 Stand UP!!
Okay [Rating: 7/10]
This is a Japanese "American Pie". I havent seen it in awhile, but I remember it wasnt half bad. Check it out. |  Tokyo rabu sutori [東京ラブストーリー]
classic [Rating: 10/10]
Another classic jdrama from the golden age of jdorama. Suzuki Honami as Akana Rika is very adorable, and memorable with her cheerful "Kanchi!" line. ;) Just watch it! Love Generation is good too, but this one's different. After you see enough of the boring jdramas made in today's day, you can easily recognize the better ones of yesterday. |
Toshishita No Otoko [年下之男]
Good [Rating: 9/10]
This drama was not only is about younger men dating older women, but how the Yamaguchi family changes because of the secret affair. All the characters are good, even though I didn't like Kengo. Jiro was hilarous. Azuza was a little crazy, but you still like her. True, Fubaki Jun isnt the hottest grandma, but from a casting standpoint, she filled the role well. A nicely written drama, which are hard to find these days. Must watch. | Triple Kitchen [トリプルキッチン]
a movie [Rating: 6/10]
Triple Kitchen suffers because it's a movie SP, which lacks the gradual warmth and comedy of Double Kitchen. The fighting between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law seems jammed in simply because it's apart of the "Kitchen" series. I love Esumi, but she's not as good as Yamaguchi Tomoko was in Double Kitchen.
Triple Kitchen had it's good parts. And who knew Nogiwa Yoko could speak english so well? Points also for putting Sano Shiro into the show, but he was way better in Double Kitchen. |
Unfair [アンフェア]
Okay [Rating: 8/10]
At first I thought it was predictable but I didn't see the twist ending coming. I thought I figured out the killer, but was I wrong! This drama took a few episodes to get rolling, but turned out to be pretty good. |  Utsukushii hito [美しい人]
Okay [Rating: 6/10]
The beginning was good. But what made this funny was Tamura Masakazu being the gentleman who "never hated anyone" lmao. This is one drama I thought Tamura Masakazu was actually a geezer in this role.
Osawa Takao was the best part in the series, even though they do well enough with his character. He was supposed to be physically abusive to his wife, but they never showed him hitting her. Instead they showed him abusing her in other ways, but not on what the series was supposed to be about. The friendship with Ikewaki Chizuru's character was a little sweet.
This series did have some good moments, but overall its mostly Tamura Masakazu character crying about his ex-wife lol lol |
Wakaba [わかば]
Liked it [Rating: 8/10]
I caught this drama around the middle of the series. It goes on for many episodes of Wakaba working hard! When I saw Wakaba all the time I was saying Gambatte Wakaba! just because its just a silly drama at some parts. I mean Wakaba does everything with a smile and rarely complains.
Harada Natsuki is an actress that stands out for me now. When I see her in other drama's, I'm all 'HEY ITS WAKABA'! lol
There things about the drama that could've been done better, like if Takahara Koichi didnt die and instead was the bartender who looked like him.. Ou Shigemi smiles too much lol.
Yamaguchi Sayaka's character is hot and lazy. She gets a boyfriend and pregnant without even trying as hard as Wakaba lol.
It was great to watch in the morning and I miss it now that its over.
WAKABA! | Watashitachi no kyokasho [わたしたちの教科書]
Good [Rating: 8/10]
A solid drama for the year 2007. The story is about bullying and the people who are affected by it.
The character Kaneyoshi Riku was too androgynous and I thought he was going to end up being kissed by some guy at the end lol.
Kanno Miho doesn't shine as bright in this drama, but I thought she was cute during her flashback scenes.
Watch it! |
 Water Boys [ウォーターボーイズ]
pretty gay [Rating: 6/10]
A drama about a five high school boys in a synchronized swimming club. The story is sort of predictable. At first the club struggles to get going but later everyone wants to join. Drama is kind of gay. I'm sorry, but when I see a couple of guys on top of a building singing to how much they like the swimming club, it's gay. Not to mention the two gay guys working bar who act like dominatrices. Then mixed in with boys in speedos who don't get any girls...
I haven't seen the movie so this was the first Water Boys for me, and maybe the last. |  Wonderful Life [ワンダフルライフ]
Good [Rating: 9/10]
Kirishima is an arrogant baseball player who has an accident which wrecks his career. Also his marriage ends in disaster, with his wife taking all his money and his son hating him. With no where to turn, he ends up working at a Yakuniku restaurant and eventually learns about a little league baseball team that needs some coaching.
No other actor could do as well as Sorimachi Takashi in this role. The supporting roles and subplots are good too. Watch! |
 Yamato Nadeshiko [やまとなでしこ【大和撫子】]
great but not excellent [Rating: 9/10]
i can see why this is one of japan's most beloved series. Matsushima Nanako is the lovely Jinno Sakurako. Nanako uses her beauty and grace with ease in this role. Tsutsumi Shinichi is a likable character. i loved most of the series except the ending!!! but i loved the series overall. Kakei Toshio was funny and pretty much all of the supporting cast was excellent. lovely stewardesses all around! would be great to see a special from this series. |  Yan Papa [やんパパ]
Good [Rating: 7/10]
I thought this drama tried to be genuine, except for the twin parts played by Fujitani Miwako. Yuusaku trying to be a young father was enough.
I loved Maki's acting in this drama. They could've done a lot more with her character, but may have made the drama less family oriented. Kato Ai and Tomoya still have a bit of chemistry going on here, even though nothing happens. Kaoruko and Risa's bitchy rivalry was okay too. |
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Hoshi no kinka 1 [星の金貨]
Trick [トリック]
Esumi Makiko [江角マキコ]
Hamada Mari [濱田マリ]
Harada Natsuki [原田夏希]
Hosho Mai [宝生舞]
Kato Ai [加藤あい]
Kato Rosa [加藤ローサ]
Sakai Ayana [酒井彩名]
Toda Naho [戸田菜穂]
Tomosaka Rie [ともさかりえ]
Akimahende! [あきまへんで！]
Algernon ni Hanataba o [アルジャーノンに花束を]
Beautiful life [ビューティフルライフ]
Big wing [ビッグウイング]
Bus stop [バスストップ]
Chiipu rabu [チープラブ]
Double kitchen [ダブルキッチン]
Engine [エンジン]
Good Luck !! [グッドラック！！]
Hachimitsu to Kuroba [ハチミツとクローバー]
Hana Yori Dango [花より男子]
Hitonatsu no Papa e [ひと夏のパパへ]
Kaidan Hyaku Shosetsu [怪談百物語]
Konna koi no hanashi [こんな恋のはなし]
Long vacation [ロングバケーション]
Love Revolution [ラブレボリューション]
Love Story
Mariya
Meguri ai [めぐり逢い]
My Little Chef
Nodame Cantabile [のだめ カンタビ−レ]
Nodame Cantabile Shinshun Special in Europe [のだめカンタービレ 新春スペシャル ＩＮ ヨーロッパ]
Oyaji~ [オヤジぃ]
Ruten no Ouhi - Saigo no Koutei [流転の王妃・最後の皇弟]
Saigo no koi [最後の恋]
Shota no sushi [将太の寿司]
Sore wa, Totsuzen, Arashi no you ni... [それは、突然、嵐のように…]
Suekko chounan ane san nin [末っ子長男姉三人]
Suna No Utsuwa [砂の器]
Taiyou no uta [タイヨのうた]
Trick 2 [トリック2]
Virgin road [バージンロード]
Zettai Kareshi [絶対彼氏]
