JDrama Recommendations

I'm looking for a recent Japanese drama that has been fully subbed. I prefer to watch a good-looking cast. It mustn't be a tear-jerker because I don't want to watch something depressing after a long day at work. Thrillers, detective shows or romances are fine, as long as they aren't too depressing, like Smile, Shiroi Haru or A Litre of Tears.

The shows I've really enjoyed so far are:
- Galileo
- Iryu 1 and 2
- SP Security Police
- Nodame Cantabile

I've watched Mr Brain, which was quite watchable but definitely not one of my favourites. I think Galileo was much better.

Any recommendations?

Gwynnie wrote:I'm looking for a recent Japanese drama that has been fully subbed. I prefer to watch a good-looking cast. It mustn't be a tear-jerker because I don't want to watch something depressing after a long day at work. Thrillers, detective shows or romances are fine, as long as they aren't too depressing, like Smile, Shiroi Haru or A Litre of Tears.


Any recommendations?

This one isn't recent, it's over 10 years old, Odoru Daisousasen is probably on everybody's short list of "Best detective drama":http://jdorama.com/drama.290.htm

Gwynnie wrote:I'm looking for a recent Japanese drama that has been fully subbed. I prefer to watch a good-looking cast. It mustn't be a tear-jerker because I don't want to watch something depressing after a long day at work. Thrillers, detective shows or romances are fine, as long as they aren't too depressing, like Smile, Shiroi Haru or A Litre of Tears.

The shows I've really enjoyed so far are:
- Galileo
- Iryu 1 and 2
- SP Security Police
- Nodame Cantabile

I've watched Mr Brain, which was quite watchable but definitely not one of my favourites. I think Galileo was much better.

Any recommendations?

Good looking cast... a thriller, Bloody Monday. Miura Haruma is nice to look at and Nariyama Hiroki is hot. Nobuta wo Produce is another excellent drama with beautiful cast. Its funny with a bit of everything.

Need help with a new mystery, thriller, suspense-oriented drama. Any suggestions? : )

tofuuuuu wrote:Miura Haruma is nice to look at

If you like girly-men.

Lifo wrote:Need help with a new mystery, thriller, suspense-oriented drama. Any suggestions? : )

New: The Quiz Show 1 & 2, Bloody Monday, Gonzo, Unfair
Old: Trick series, Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi, Gift, and Sleeping Forest.

bmwracer wrote:
If you like girly-men.

Yes I do :P but this particular guy get plus points for his ability to weild a standard metal ruler into a formidable katana.

tofuuuuu wrote:
New: The Quiz Show 1 & 2, Bloody Monday, Gonzo, Unfair
Old: Trick series, Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi, Gift, and Sleeping Forest.

u cud add the dorama TRIANGLE as well :victory:

gaijinmark wrote:

This one isn't recent, it's over 10 years old, Odoru Daisousasen is probably on everybody's short list of "Best detective drama":http://jdorama.com/drama.290.htm

Thanks for the recommendation, will check it out. :woot: I do hope the fashion isn't strange or out-dated. I find it distracting to see characters dressed or accessorised funnily. :p

tofuuuuu wrote:
Good looking cast... a thriller, Bloody Monday. Miura Haruma is nice to look at and Nariyama Hiroki is hot. Nobuta wo Produce is another excellent drama with beautiful cast. Its funny with a bit of everything.

Great recommendations. I've watched them and did enjoy both. :)

It doesn't necessarily have to be a thriller, I'm fine with romance or medical dramas too, as long as the subject matter isn't too heavy-going and it isn't the tear-jerker type.

Gwynnie wrote:
I do hope the fashion isn't strange or out-dated. I find it distracting to see characters dressed or accessorised funnily. :p

Hmmm, that could be a problem. One of the running threads throughout the series is Yuji Oda's big, ugly overcoat and why he keeps wearing it.

gaijinmark wrote:

Hmmm, that could be a problem. One of the running threads throughout the series is Yuji Oda's big, ugly overcoat and why he keeps wearing it.

:mrgreen:
But that coat was already unfashionable in the 90ties when this drama aired. :hehe:

So what's crackin' with the dramas? Has there been anything that came out this year that was particularly good or worth recommending?

Tu_triky wrote:So what's crackin' with the dramas? Has there been anything that came this year that was particularly good or worth recommending?

I think the standouts this year were Shiroi Haru and Ninkyo Helper...

bmwracer wrote:
I think the standouts this year were Shiroi Haru and Ninkyo Helper...

Thanks, man. I'll look into 'em.

bmwracer wrote:
I think the standouts this year were Shiroi Haru and Ninkyo Helper...

I would add Love Shuffle and perhaps Jin, which is currently airing, but other than that it has been a gritty year.

EstherM wrote:

I would add Love Shuffle and perhaps Jin, which is currently airing, but other than that it has been a gritty year.

Okay, thanks.

EstherM wrote:I would add Love Shuffle

Yeah, I guess it's worth a watch, but the other two I mentioned were more watchable.

I would pass on Ninkyo Helper probably Kusanagi's worst drama in a long time.

One nobody's mentioned is Arifureta Kiseki:http://jdorama.com/drama_1372.htm. Restored my faith in Yukie. :thumbsup:

gaijinmark wrote:
One nobody's mentioned is Arifureta Kiseki:http://jdorama.com/drama_1372.htm. Restored my faith in Yukie. :thumbsup:

Why? Is it like Gokusen 12?


I'll check it out...

Tu_triky wrote:Why? Is it like Gokusen 12?

Maybe lucky 13... :beaten: