JDrama Recommendations

Spyde- wrote:

I took the time to create the account, but the download was painfully slow (around 4kb/sec). I'm beginning to think the problem is my connection.
XDCC seems to be the only option that work with decent speeds. I don't have a firewall in my router (that I know of?) and I tried to turn off the Windows Firewall. No luck. :banghead:

It must be something like that. Typically they use Megaupload or something like that, the speeds from there can be really good - i've had over 500kb/sec :)

zhirong wrote:Nodame... serious? :rofl: :rofl:
It is the best comedy drama I've watched so far. Nothing came close to the laughs I have gotten from it.

Right on. :victory: :applaud:

Spyde- wrote:can anyone recommend a more mature themed drama?

Shiroi Kyoto
Ohsama no Resutoran
Chonan no Yome 2
Coach
Keizoku
Ai wa Douda
Mona Lisa no Hohoemi

uuu you all should see Rookies! :woot:

Yes i've watched 3 episodes of Nodame Cantabile, it's hilarious :p serious was the wrong word, it just seemed like it at first. Thanks for the suggestions i'll be sure to look into all of them! Thank you! =)

crom wrote:Yes i've watched 3 episodes of Nodame Cantabile, it's hilarious :p serious was the wrong word, it just seemed like it at first.

Cool... Glad you're enjoying it now. :victory:

Some more mature-themed dramas:

Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
Muri na Ren'ai
Gonzo- Densetsu no Keiji
Daisuki
Bara no nai Hanaya
Ashita no Kita Yoshio
Karei-naru Ichizoku
Byakuyakou
Watashitachi no Kyoukasho
Around 40
Over Time
Shibatora (it just looks like a kiddie comedy, really!)
Iryu

And to whoever didn't mind school dramas, here are some good ones:
GTO
Gokusen (first season only!)
Nobuta wo Produce
Life
Hana Yori Dango
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

shin2 wrote:Shiroi Kyoto
Ohsama no Resutoran
Chonan no Yome 2
Coach
Keizoku
Ai wa Douda
Mona Lisa no Hohoemi

marspeach wrote:Some more mature-themed dramas:

Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
Muri na Ren'ai
Gonzo- Densetsu no Keiji
Daisuki
Bara no nai Hanaya
Ashita no Kita Yoshio
Karei-naru Ichizoku
Byakuyakou
Watashitachi no Kyoukasho
Around 40
Over Time
Shibatora (it just looks like a kiddie comedy, really!)
Iryu

And to whoever didn't mind school dramas, here are some good ones:
GTO
Gokusen (first season only!)
Nobuta wo Produce
Life
Hana Yori Dango
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e

Woah, thanks a lot! :) :dancing:

marspeach wrote:Some more mature-themed dramas:

Kekkon Dekinai Otoko

Wait, what? Were we watching the same show? I'm not saying it's a bad show by any means (one of my favorites actually), but I mean c'mon, the premise is about a bachelor who's too IMMATURE to try to make a relationship work. :headscratch:

Tenshigure wrote:

Wait, what? Were we watching the same show? I'm not saying it's a bad show by any means (one of my favorites actually), but I mean c'mon, the premise is about a bachelor who's too IMMATURE to try to make a relationship work. :headscratch:

I think it's mature in that it's not a teeny-bopper show.

marspeach wrote:

I think it's mature in that it's not a teeny-bopper show.

For what it's worth (probably nothing), I agree. And not just because Kekkon Dekinai Otoko is not about teen-boppers or isn't a vehicle to promote those androgynous stick figures and superficial cutie-pies that fangirls and fanboys go apesh*t over.

It's also mature because the two leads are both well over 30 (how often does that happen in contemporary Jdrama?). It's also mature because there are many subtleties present in their acting and interaction (subtlety is definitely not a characteristic found in the current Jdrama, nearly all of which try to target the aforementioned fangirls and fanboys). The script isn't dumb downed for star-struck juveniles.

And I don't think Abe Hiroshi's character is immature; rather, he's socially awkward, which is entirely different imo.

OK, I'd like to start watching my first taiga...

I have access to quite a few and based on that access and reviews, I'm thinking of trying Aoi Tokugawa Sanda for a start...

Any other recommendations?...

runpup wrote:OK, I'd like to start watching my first taiga...

I have access to quite a few and based on that access and reviews, I'm thinking of trying Aoi Tokugawa Sanda for a start...

Any other recommendations?...

For a Taiga, I'd recommend Musashi.

runpup wrote:OK, I'd like to start watching my first taiga...

Any other recommendations?...

Anything EXCEPT Yoshitsune :bleh: [/list:u]

runpup wrote:OK, I'd like to start watching my first taiga...

I have access to quite a few and based on that access and reviews, I'm thinking of trying Aoi Tokugawa Sanda for a start...

Any other recommendations?...

Aoi Tokugawa Sandai is a good choice. Both the script and the cast are top quality. Just be forewarned that the first several episodes overwhelm you with names, places and events and, if you're not real familiar with Japanese history, can leave you feeling lost. However, the series does narrow its focus, becoming more intimate with the major figures, and it becomes much easier to follow. The very clever prologues also help in guiding the viewer.

Aoi is my favorite Taiga and the best written, best acted one I've seen.

Another good one imo is Genroku Ryoran which is based on the famous 47 ronin incident. There are a number of recognizable faces in this one, but what stands out are the superb performances of Nakamura Kanzaburo as the leader of the loyal retainers and Hagiwara Kenichi as the "Dog Shogun."

Toshiie to Matsu has a good cast made up of a number of current familiar dorama actors who can actually act; Takeda Shingen (with Nakai Kiichi in the titular role) and Dokuganryu Masamune (starring Watanabe Ken) are very traditional Taigas from the 80's that feature major actors and actresses from that period, some of whom are still active.

gaijinmark wrote: Anything EXCEPT Yoshitsune :bleh: [/list:u]

Second that.

I'd really recommend LIFE ..
its about bullying, its really good.
Also, if you like sad dramas 1 Litre Of Tears is good to
First drama I watched. :)

shin2 wrote:

For what it's worth (probably nothing), I agree. And not just because Kekkon Dekinai Otoko is not about teen-boppers or isn't a vehicle to promote those androgynous stick figures and superficial cutie-pies that fangirls and fanboys go apesh*t over.

It's also mature because the two leads are both well over 30 (how often does that happen in contemporary Jdrama?). It's also mature because there are many subtleties present in their acting and interaction (subtlety is definitely not a characteristic found in the current Jdrama, nearly all of which try to target the aforementioned fangirls and fanboys). The script isn't dumb downed for star-struck juveniles.

And I don't think Abe Hiroshi's character is immature; rather, he's socially awkward, which is entirely different imo.

Point taken, though I wouldn't really lump it in with the others, I suppose I kinda link it with more of a 'lighthearted' tag instead of 'mature' in the age sense, lol. Still a great show though!

Although I liked Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, I'm not a big fan of Abe Hiroshi. He's always just so flat, he acts the same in everything.

Jav_sol wrote:Although I liked Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, I'm not a big fan of Abe Hiroshi. He's always just so flat, he acts the same in everything.

Then you haven't seen him in the Trick series. :victory: