Why do I like Japanese dramas? I admit that Sakai Noriko is the one person who drew me into Japanese dramas from the beginning. Literally, I found out that besides her recording career and all of her concerts, she also did some acting.

1998... One day at a Border's bookstore, I was flipping through a soap opera encyclopedia to read about my favorite soap opera As the World Turns. Through the hundreds of pages, I came across a photo of Noriko-chan. Found out that she appeared in what the encyclopedia called a "Japanese soap opera" called Heaven's Coins.

Got ahold of what ended up being a Chinese subbed version of the series off of eBay. Damn, it didn't come with English subtitles! Well, I watched the whole thing not understanding a single word anyone was saying. But hey, it didn't matter because Nori-P didn't say a single thing anyway (she was a deaf mute in the series), and all I really cared about was watching her actually do something other than sing or dance. She's so cuuuuuuuuuuute and pretty!!!!!

After that, I was speaking to a co-worker of mine about Noriko-chan during lunch. He said hell, I have several VHS videos of her!!! Got ahold of the videos, found out soon after it was the series Under the Same Roof, which he recorded off of NGN, complete with English subtitles, too!!!!! Watched the videos at least 20 times over and over again. Now I feel like a member of the Kashiwagi family!!! She is just sooooooooooooo adorable on UTSR!!!!!

Well, that's about it, really!!!! I actually started collecting other Jdoramas just so that I can use it as trading material for more Noriko-chan stuff.

--- groink

Got it: http://jdorama.com/viewtopic_3636.htm

why I love jdramas? because they are really good... different storyline... different character... and also TAKESHI KANESHIRO!!!!!

bmwracer has a very good memory!!!

[quote]Japanese dramas has provided me with courage of seeing other straight Asian men having their hair styled, dress well and giving me the extra boost to look good and feel great by looking good.[/quote]

Yeah, as an Asian American male who grew up in California I subconsciously was bothered by how there really isn't much out there in terms of tv, movie, or other media asian male "role models" that go beyond a stereotype. I saw a documentary where a few Asian American women even admitted that they don't find Asian American men that attractive, largely in part, they said, because they never really see them depicted as "masculine" or sexually attractive in movies or tv.

I remember reading articles about Chow Yun Fat as the sexiest Asian male actor after he appeared in Anna and the King, and critiques of how the asian male lead in Holleywood never gets to kiss the girl. The Holleywood emasculated asian male syndrome. Remember how big of a deal it was that Jackie Chan finally kissed his (white) female lead in a Holleywood movie last year?

So one of the things I get out of watching J-dramas is getting to see Japanese people getting to play ANY and every possible role, but especially as the Main Character. Notions of attractive male masculinity are also quite different in Japan. When I was buying a DVD of Beautiful life, an American caucasian classmate of mine who was with me and saw the box and remarked how cute Tokiwa Takako was and how feminine Kimu-taku looked. After I told him how Kimu-Taku is one of the most popular actors in Japan, he asked me why Japanese people like whimpy fem types men.

Anyway, I hear where you're coming from kndy.

But of course there is much more to J-dramas than just a reality where people who look Japanese are cool. As people have mentioned, they're great ways to study and learn Japanese, learn about J-culture, use as a topic of discussion to talk to Japanese friends with, check out the latest stars, get exposure to J-pop music, and be entertained all at the same time.

For me, im trying to learn nihongo so doramas act like a study guide to so speak. As i learn more in school, i can test myself and see if i can understand it as they are speaking. Also to check out the fine japanese actresses japan has to offer!!
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I like japanese dramas because they help people like me try to learn conversational japanese. Also. they have a set amount of episodes so there is an end, versus here in the US... dramas continue for seasons after seasons after seasons...you get the drift. I find asian girls more attractive than the caucasion in the dramas here. Maybe cause im asian myself...
Another good point in why i watch dramas is because it gives me a feel of how other countries precieve what is a good drama to them. Its very interesting....
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zaza_tk87 wrote:

bmwracer has a very good memory!!!

No, bmwracer needs to get a life!

Mr.ChoyBoi wrote:

Also to check out the fine japanese actresses japan has to offer!!

True that, bud.

It all began when I started to like Sushi, Sashimi and Japanese male (hahahaha..J/K ) Seriously, there's no specific reason I just like it.

bmwracer wrote:

No, bmwracer needs to get a life!

No, you need more sushi..

Akakage wrote:

No, you need more sushi..

You might be right.

Unagi and hamachi sushi, please!!

bmwracer wrote:

True that, bud.

I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't agree.

Maybe cause da story is have alot of various life element

I like the fact that J-dramas are short and to the point. There's little story wasted on subplots and if there is more you can tell how it spoils the drama.

I won't go into the reasons TG3 mentioned, but just to make another comparison, telenovelas in either Spanish or Portuguese language last at least 6 months, going from Monday to Friday. Sometimes they drag even further in case the ratings are up, which lead to repetitive telling of the story or the addition of things or situations that are superfluous.

I prefer the Japanese system - a fixed series timeline regardless of ratings. It doesn't keep me with a "what to expect" feeling during the whole week as S or P-dramas do my relatives...

Also it helps me learn the language a little bit and the women, of course, are awesome.

Very enjoyable knowing that a lot of people are same with me, love to watch drama. But my question are, " Why did you like to see Japan's drama? Why not Taiwan, Hong Kong, or South Korean's drama?"

I just want to know it, all of you can tell me about your feeling and the reason why you more like Japan's drama.

Arigato

I can't really answer you cuz I watch Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Korean and Japanese dramas.
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I like watching Japanese drama because theres a good feel about it..always have a good message..theres always a mixture of fun, happiness, and sadness..when I watch Korean dramas..I get this soap opera feeling and I don't like watching it..HK to me is boring..it used to be good..Taiwan? I don't think I ever watched any.

IMO Japanese dramas are the best! I voted for Matsushima Nanako

For me my wife is Japanese so we can watch them together. I also think that Japanese drama's tend to be a little more cute or light hearted which I like. Plus I have been to Japan several times so I have a closer bond with Japan and the Japanese from that respect too. I have not traveled to Kora, or Hong Kong. Plus Nanako, Akiko, and ohters don't hurt either.
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Because the Kurosawa Akira movies I saw in theaters were so good, I went to find more in video stores.

And once I'd gone through his movies, I started watching the movies of other Japanese directors. And I liked them.

I like the way many Japanese film makers tell stories, and I like their attention to technical detail. (I think their Sci Fi is terrible, and I think their Horror is weak. But I like everything else.)

And trivial as it might sound, I like the sound of spoken Japanese.

Most English speakers, especially Americans and the English talk about how beautiful sounding the French language is.

Personally I don't like to listen to French. Or Spanish. Or Chinese. (Nothing to do with the culture here, or the people. I'm talking about the sound.)

But there's just something about the sound of Japanese that I like.

Anyway, after I'd seen all of Kurosawa's movies, and emptied the video store racks of Japanese imports... I turned to the TV dramas that are shown here on the weekends.

And great goolie-mooglie, there were these insanely beautiful women, playing great roles, in really good TV shows, week after week.

I don't watch Korean dramas because I think they're made mostly for women. There's way too much romance and other soft plots in them. And the people just look too damn soft and fragile -- especially the guys. Call me wrong, but I'm just telling you what I've observed. If I went to a school where they were filled with the kinds of people you see in Kdramas, I'd ask for an immediate transfer because I'd probably beat the s**t out of some of them sooner or later.

I like Japanese dramas because the storylines (at least in the series' I watch and like) seem to target just about everyone -- whether it's gender, spiritual beliefs, femininity/masculine level, or whatever. The plots are more believable. The characters aren't always that beautiful and soft.

And believe it or not, I have a hard time listening to the Korean language itself. I guess I've listened to the Japanese language far too long. Even though I don't understand Japanese all that well, the audible linguistics of the language is friendlier to my ear. Again, this is not at all factual... This is purely my own opinion on the matter.

--- groink