JDrama Recommendations

[ainangst]

arrialovesyou wrote:

Does anyone know of any happy, romantic ones? Something lighthearted and no one dies or leaves their obvious soul mate?

LONG VACATION! I was in a state of euphoria after watching the last episode.

Shaorin wrote:

Hi can anyone recommend me a Jdrama that is similar to Hana Yori Dango? I like school romance types

see my previous post

[pandora]

You guys rock. I've fallen behind my dorama watching and followed this thread to catch up on what I should watch. Thanks! Just wana to get an opinion on Aoi Tori, its old some poeple really like it and some don't what do you guys think?
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Himamonojya.

[tabana]

From what I've heard it's fun to watch because of all the scenery. They travel all across Japan. Story wise, no idea. A lot of people liked it, but it's a sad and depressing drama.
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[Steve]

xoxsunnydelight wrote:

hey i need a recomendation... i watched stand up nobuta wo produce my boss my hero dragon zakura i like those romantic comedy kinds, as u can see, perferably ones in gakkou scenes.

i also watch nobuta and dragon zakura, i like them too..
I think you must try orange days and dekichatta kekkon (shotgun marriage). And also i've just finish "kekkon dekinai otoko" it really funny yet not boring at all, I think u might enjoy it.

[Garp_is_dead]

Hello everyone

Does someone know a great drama that would take place in Tokyo and that would give us a great insight of the contemporary Japanese culture in Tokyo?

And also the same but for the Japanese country side?

I'm sorry if my request looks awkward I can precise if you don't see what I mean

Thank you
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[tabana]

Garp_is_dead wrote:

I'm sorry if my request looks awkward I can precise if you don't see what I mean

That'd be great 'cause most dramas are in Tokyo. Very few are located elsewhere. (kisarazu cat's eye, aoi tori, shota no sushi, Ganbatte Ikimasshoi) Sometimes you'll have half the first episode in a village somewhere where the hero moves to Tokyo to realize his/her dreams. They are shot in studios with few on location shoots. Usually the same place during all the series: bridge, park, beach...

So far, I've found more info on culture and society from documentary and restaurant reviews.
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[Garp_is_dead]

Hi Tabana, thank you for the informations

Actually I know few about Japanese Dramas, so I will try those you're talking about. Unfortunately there are few documentaries about Japan on French Tv, but I dind't think about finding it on the web, thanx for the advice
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[tabana]

No problem, but I thought you were a veteran in terms of drama.

I actually found another one, Yasashii Jikan. It's about a coffee shop in Hokkaido. Haven't seen it tho, but it's the next thing I'll watch. I'll keep you posted. http://jdorama.com/drama.855.htm

There are not much documentary here either. There was a 3 part by the BBC called Tokyo Urban Nation. I saw it 3 or 4 years ago, but IIRC one was about fashion / pop culture, one about music and the other about sex. Around 30min each. It was pretty good. Someone posted the links a few months back, but can't remember where.

One other source of information is from movies. They usually have more other shots and beautiful scenery.
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[Anime Dad]

There was also a BBC documentary series called "Japanorama" in which each episiode explored different aspects of Japanese culture.

[tabana]

Oh yeah, they were really good too. I only saw 2 or 3 IIRC, but most documentaries are good. Some may not be up to date, but gives general info.

Travel stuff, like Lonely Planet was nice too.
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[Garp_is_dead]

Thank you very much to both of you it helps a lot
I will check for these documentary on the internet and Yasashii Jikan too
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[tabana]

You're welcome.

I watched the first 2 episodes of Yasashii Jikan and there are beautiful outdoor scenes. So far it looks like some remote wooden area over here. Very different from all the dramas I've seen so far.
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[ainangst]

Garp_is_dead wrote:

Hello everyone Does someone know a great drama that would take place in Tokyo and that would give us a great insight of the contemporary Japanese culture in Tokyo? And also the same but for the Japanese country side? I'm sorry if my request looks awkward I can precise if you don't see what I mean Thank you

Haikei, Chichiue-sama (Dear Father)
http://jdorama.com/drama.1049.htm
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Haikei%2C_Chichiue-sama
The setting is in Kagurazaka, which is considered the French district of Tokyo. You can read more about the story from the link above. The whole drama gives a laidback view on life in Tokyo with wonderful shots of cobbled stone street, pretty back alleys, the classic shrines/temples, & the century old restaurant that still serves its food like the good old day The mother of the protagonist & the owner of the restaurant were once the graceful geishas of Kagurazaka who still keep the secrets of their patrons. A very good drama as an introduction to Japanese culture.

Yasashii Jikan is good too (my favourite dorama) but the characters are more urbanized than in Haikei eventhough its shot in the country. Furano is beautiful. Very different indeed from the usual dramas.

[tabana]

Thank you. That looks really good.

On a side note, they were both written by the same guy.
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[Keps]

Anime Dad wrote:

There was also a BBC documentary series called "Japanorama" in which each episiode explored different aspects of Japanese culture.

True. But the host is Jonathan Ross, and the show is fairly limited to the stuff he's interested in (anime, manga, film and toys).
There's lots of clips of this show on YouTube.

[Garp_is_dead]

Thank you very very much for all these informations guys
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[Anime Dad]

Keps wrote:

True. But the host is Jonathan Ross, and the show is fairly limited to the stuff he's interested in (anime, manga, film and toys). There's lots of clips of this show on YouTube.

Still, it's interesting stuff, even if a bit limited. There's an episode which shows Sumo beetle wrestling.... fascinating

[sadacori]

I noticed that a lot of people are mentioning Haikei, Chichiue-sama (Dear Father) and Yasashii Jikan and saying that it was good even though it was a slow-moving drama. I tend to get bored of some slow-moving dramas (Aoi Tori/Blue Bird, for one), but I'm still debating on whether to check these dramas out, I would appreciate some opinions. No Nino fangirl opinions please.
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Japanese drama trades (on hiatus)

Currently watching: Netflix stuff

[bmwracer]

cori wrote:

No Nino fangirl opinions please.

I like your way of thinking.

[Garp_is_dead]

cori wrote:

I noticed that a lot of people are mentioning Haikei, Chichiue-sama (Dear Father) and Yasashii Jikan and saying that it was good even though it was a slow-moving drama. I tend to get bored of some slow-moving dramas (Aoi Tori/Blue Bird, for one), but I'm still debating on whether to check these dramas out, I would appreciate some opinions. No Nino fangirl opinions please.

Hello

I've watched the two first episodes of "dear father" and so far I really enjoy it, because it looks "real"...the actors are really good, they don't overplay (can I say that? lol)

Still there are some scene that are really corny (the appearance of the french girl for example) but it seems inevitable in japanese dramas (but maybe I'm wrong here I've seen few dramas so far)...

(by the way the so-called french girl doesn't speak as if she was really french :p but maybe there will be an explanation to this later...so I shut my mouth!)
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