Plan to Watch Japanese Dramas

Housewife Sasamoto Sawa works as a part-time supermarket cashier. One afternoon, she unconsciously pickpockets a lipstick at the supermarket. Takigawa Rikako sees a part of this. What she proposes is Sawa’s assistance in setting up an alibi for her affair in exchange for her silence on that matter. Sawa obeys the demands of Rikako in order to protect her “happiness” even though she is falling apart emotionally. In the process, she meets high school teacher Kitano Yuichiro and gradually cannot stop thinking about him. Before long, she crosses a line which she should not.  

Makoto Kusano graduated from a prestigious university and landed a job at a large company. His life seemed to be on a smooth sailing journey, but things change drastically for him. Due to the Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, Makoto Kusano is laid off from his job. This is just 6 months after he started work there. Making things worse, his sick father requires expensive medical treatment that his insurance does not cover. Makoto Kusano is also pressured by a bank to repay his student loan. He is now in a desperate situation. Makoto Kusano then sees a notice for a job that promises lavish pay. His job turns out to require Makoto Kusano to withdraw money from elderly people's bank accounts. These people are victims of voice phishing.

Upon getting thrown out of his girlfriend Fujiko's apartment, Hiromi (Sorimachi) decides to head for the ocean. En route, he crosses paths with Kaito (Takenouchi), an elite employee of a large multinational trading company in Tokyo who is running away from his problems at work after losing a key client. The two stumble into a quiet B&B on the beach run by the aging surfer Masaru and his high-school-aged granddaughter Makoto. Hiromi immediately applies to work there for the summer, and Kaito is forced to join him after he loses his wallet. The two share a room, with Hiromi trying to make friends, and Kaito at first resisting, unimpressed by Hiromi's devil-may-care attitude. Slowly over the ensuing episodes, Kaito becomes more and more at home in this sleepy rural town, and begins to wonder if he should give up his pursuit of success in the big city, and try to relax, and enjoy himself more. When he returns to Tokyo to finish his work, Hiromi and Makoto come to lure him back, but when he returns to the B&B, his boss and girlfriend Sakura likewise come looking for him.            

The story follows Aya Saito from last year in high school to her 40s, as she moves from Akita, a small rural town in the Japanese countryside to the glittering metropolis of Tokyo. Aya has to adjust to the different values and perceptions of the big city as she struggles with challenging situations. We get to follow Aya's move from one neighborhood to another as she maneuvers her career and love life.  

A touching love story about a girl, Kano Masaki, who contracted HIV after selling her body in order to earn money for the concert of a famous composer Ishikawa Keigo. After the concert, Keigo saw Masaki chasing after his van. She was drenched, and thus Keigo took her to his apartment, where they spent the night.

Hayakawa Ai commits a crime which lands her in a correction facility for juveniles. There she meets & becomes firm friends with four other delinquents & falls in love with one of the wardens, Ariake Yu, an artist with secrets....  

Set in a small restaurant in the corner of a shopping district. The unusual eatery is only open after midnight, and its standard menu consists of just a single choice. However, the customers still come for the amusing chatter and the proprietor's willingness to cook any dish that they request. This drama depicts the lives of the restaurant's patrons, including a yakuza, an unsuccessful actor, a group of office ladies, a newspaper delivery boy, and a stripper. --Tokyograph

There is a small eatery ‘Meshiya’ in a back alley of a busy street which is run just by its owner. Called the “midnight eatery”, its opening hours are from midnight to 7 am in the morning. The only items on the menu of are miso soup with pork and vegetables set, beer, sake and shochu. All sorts of customers visit the eatery which is based on the owner’s policy of “making whatever can be done”. The encounters between the owner, food and customers are humorous and at times heartrending.  

There is a small eatery ‘Meshiya’ in a back alley of a busy street which is run just by its owner. Called the “midnight eatery”, its opening hours are from midnight to 7 am in the morning. The only items on the menu of are miso soup with pork and vegetables set, beer, sake and shochu. All sorts of customers visit the eatery which is based on the owner’s policy of “making whatever can be done”. The encounters between the owner, food and customers are humorous and at times heartrending.  

"Set in a small restaurant in the corner of a shopping district. The unusual eatery is only open after midnight, and its standard menu consists of just a single choice. However, the customers still come for the amusing chatter and the proprietor's willingness to cook any dish that they request. This drama depicts the lives of the restaurant's patrons, including a yakuza, an unsuccessful actor, a group of office ladies, a newspaper delivery boy, and a stripper.  

Exploring the perception and treatment of mentally-challenged youth and their similarities to juvenile delinquents in Japanese society, this drama series follows the trials and tribulations of a group of adolescents in a work/study program for mentally-challenged teenagers. Although the program's intention is to gently "normalize" them for introduction in society, the group is subject to constant physical and mental abuse unbeknownst to their parents and teacher, Ms Hagawa. However, the friendship between Towa, a naive but unusually articulate member of the program, and Arisu, a rebellious schoolgirl, helps both of them learn to overcome their troubles. Features a star-studded cast of current popular youth idols. 

Set within the fictional city of Mahoro, Keisuke Tada and Haruhiko Gyoten are two thirty something divorced men who run a “benriya” (odd jobs for hire) business. The drama series depicts their interactions with clients in their agency, which is located across the street from a station.  

Set in a small restaurant in the corner of a shopping district. The unusual eatery is only open after midnight, and its standard menu consists of just a single choice. However, the customers still come for the amusing chatter and the proprietor's willingness to cook any dish that they request. Based on the manga series "Shinya Shokudo" by Yaro Abe.

Two teachers work together at the same high school. Hikawa Toru is a methodical but naive, elite graduate from the University of Tokyo while Akagi Masashi is a physical education teacher who is kind-hearted but a little rough around the edges. Before Akagi knows it, he finds himself attracted to Hikawa, whose personality is the opposite of his own. Unable to hold back anymore, he kisses Hikawa one night.  Seen by a passing student, everyone including the student body, parents, and even the school principal will become involved. What will become of these two?

This is a low budget YouTube drama that follows the lives of a group of college students who are trying to figure themselves out while they are on the way to becoming adults.   

Hinata is an introverted geek who sits next to Mikage in class. Hinata realizes that Mikage is a former friend from elementary school, and attempts to rekindle their friendship. The series will star Haruka Fukuhara as Hinata Omimura and Miki Yanagi as Mikage Mikuriya. Furthermore,  Kenji Kurata is helming the series and writing the script.

This drama follows the story of ground-breaking porn Director Toru Muranishi. From his unlikely start as an English encyclopedia salesman, he casts a charismatic vision that leads Japanese pornography from idealized, substanceless skin flicks to more realistic and story-based encounters. Along the way he inspires many around him as they navigate a female sexual revolution, monopolized distribution channels, censorship, international laws and the yakuza.

Fujinuma Satoru is an aspiring manga artist who has the ability to travel back in time moments before a life-threatening incident, in which he is able to prevent those from happening. When his mother is murdered by an unknown assailant, Satoru’s ability suddenly sends him back eighteen years to when he was still in elementary school, giving him the opportunity to prevent a kidnapping incident that took the lives of three of his childhood friends; two classmates and one young girl studying at a school nearby.

Frustrated by life with her boyfriend, thirty-something Wako can't stop herself from being interested in high schooler Yumeaki, despite the age gap.

A group of homeless men perform contracted assassinations, flaying their targets and delivering the tattooed skins as proof of the agreements' fulfilment.  

If you are with me, you can get it. This is Shibuya, but it is not Shibuya. This is where Shibuya 109 is next to 108 (Tokyo), and the highways signs write Shibuya. The people who live in this virtual world are "Shibuya 15". The only thing real is the pain. 

When Kanchi  first came to Tokyo to work, he is full of uncertainties. He is 'lost' in his work and his love relationship is in a mess. During those times, Rika, his colleague, always encourages and helps him. Though they fall for each other once, all this comes quick and ends fast. Rika is simply too 'energetic' and her love is simply too 'heavy' for Kanchi.  

Seven men and women board a pink bus in search of true love. On a journey through Asia with strangers, their goal is to return to Japan as a couple. 

Notebooks that foretell deaths, numerous urban legends, and murders with no clues... a series of strange incidents occur, and people are lead into a deep labyrinth of mysteries. Five fledgling teen detectives of the Dan Detective Academy, which was founded by the legendary and renowned detective, Morihiko Dan, work together to solve such difficult cases. Stealthily at work behind the strange incidents is an evil crime syndicate called the "Meiosei". They are a group of intellectuals who have long antagonized the Detective Academy run by Morihiko Dan. The five youngsters make their way forward a step at a time as they come face to face with death, clash with one another at times, reconcile, and deepen their friendship. This is a pop mystery drama series about youth friendship and adventure in the face of united efforts against dark forces.  

An idealistic banker takes on corruption and wrongdoing at his large corporate bank. While forging ties with some unlikely allies, he must use his financial expertise, his instincts about human nature, and his skills of improvisation to try to stay one step ahead of his powerful enemies.

With graduation 10 days away, homeroom teacher Hiiragi gathered all 29 students of class 3-A and proclaims them his hostages. His last lesson regards the death of a student that passed away a few months before. Nobody will be able to graduate until the truth is known.  

Unnatural is a case-of-the-week medical mystery show; its main theme is the change of reality brought upon by imminent death of a loved one. Mystery and exhilarating human drama unfold against the backdrop of the “unnatural death institute”, or “UDI”. For example, the body of a young man is brought into the UDI lab one day; cause of his death is attributed to ischemic heart disease. But the victim’s parents are puzzled by the freak nature of their son’s death and turn to medical coroner Mikoto, to find the real reason. Together with her lab technician partner, Yuko Shoji, and rookie medical recorder, Rokuro, they examine the body for a possible drug poisoning and then learn that female colleague of the deceased man has just died suddenly.  

Unnatural is a case-of-the-week medical mystery show; its main theme is the change of reality brought upon by imminent death of a loved one. Mystery and exhilarating human drama unfold against the backdrop of the “unnatural death institute”, or “UDI”. For example, the body of a young man is brought into the UDI lab one day; cause of his death is attributed to ischemic heart disease. But the victim’s parents are puzzled by the freak nature of their son’s death and turn to medical coroner Mikoto, to find the real reason. Together with her lab technician partner, Yuko Shoji, and rookie medical recorder, Rokuro, they examine the body for a possible drug poisoning and then learn that female colleague of the deceased man has just died suddenly.  

The story opens after a young female student kills herself by jumping off a balcony. It's soon discovered that she was in fact stabbed, and the room arranged to make it look like a suicide. And so we begin. A few minor details lead Detective Kanzo to suspect that Ryo, an enigmatic chef's assistant, knows more about her death.The two have run into each other by chance a few times, and each time left Kanzo with an uncomfortable feeling. Every clue that is revealed seems to lead to more questions about Ryo, his obsessive girlfriend, his callous and manipulative relations with several women, and about a painful memory from Kanzo's past. Things get more complicated when a powerful love/hate relationship develops between Ryo and Kanza's little sister, the beautiful Yuko. What exactly is their connection? As the evidence (and body count) rises, Kanza tries desperately to save his sister from Ryo's influence. He's no saint, but is he the Devil Kanza thinks he is? And why? The answers will floor you, even when you think you've got them figured out already.  

Haru is the captain and star player of an ice hockey team, who is greatly respected by his teammates. For him, hockey is serious business that fully occupies his mind, while he treats romance as if it were a game. Aki is a typical office lady, and is waiting for her boyfriend to return from studying architecture abroad. At this point in time however, he shows no sign of coming back. One day, Aki's friends who are determined to find her a new boyfriend, invite her to watch an ice hockey game. There she sees Haru for the first time.  

Fukami Hiroki's younger sister was killed by a friend. Hiroki then meets the killer's sister, Toyama Futaba, 15 years after the incident. Both of their families have been burdened with grief, but through their meeting they struggle to find a brighter tomorrow.  

Ichikawa Yasuo, who goes by the nickname Yasu, is a ‘dumb’ man unequalled anywhere in the world. He has not had schooling, is boorish and would immediately let his fists fly if he loses his cool. But Yasu is different from the ordinary fool in that he is a “doting parent”. He grew up without parents and does not know what it is like to be close, but he and his wife love each other and live happily as they watch their son Akira grow up. However, when Akira is 3 years old, they are suddenly struck by tragedy. Yasu loses his wife in a freak accident. Although overcome with guilt and sorrow, Yasu puts it behind him and tries to raise his beloved son with the help of his friends.

PA Japanese reality competition show and a spin-off of the South Korean television series Produce 101. The show follows 101 trainees with the intention of producing an 11-member boy band, with members selected by viewers.  

Sena is a college graduate who dreams of becoming a world-class pianist. He teaches piano at a local piano school. Minami is an out of work model. On her wedding day, she gets dumped by her fiance and loses all of her savings, which she gave to her fiance. Her fiance turns out to be Sena's former roommate. She rushes to Sena's apartment and finds out that her fiance has skipped town. With no money and nowhere to go, she moves in with Sena. Sena likes Ryoko, a college sophomore. He likes her a lot but just doesn't have the courage to ask her out. Momoko is Minami's best friend and is also a model. She provides much of the comedic relief in this show. Shinji is Minami's younger brother who just happens to be better than Sena at piano. He opens a bar/nite club. Rumiko is Shinji's girlfriend. Sasaki-sensei is Sena's professor at college and is always encouraging Sena to perform at the next piano competition.

Katagiri Teppei is a promising creative agent, but whose attitude gets him transferred to the sales department. He has to learn to adapt to the new working environment, which includes cutting his precious locks of hair to create a neater and more appropriate image. Helping him along the way is Uesugi Riko, whom he tried to pick up along the street earlier but was tricked by her instead. Riko does not have a good impression of him at first but falls for him gradually. However, Teppei runs into his ex-girlfriend Mizuhara Sanae, who is now the girlfriend of his brother Soichiro. Consoling him is Riko, whom Teppei likes gradually. Just when Teppei and Riko start dating, Sanae realises that she still likes Teppei.

This story centers around four teenagers fighting their past traumas and appreciating friendship. Azuma Ibuki and Otazawa Mei are a contrasting pair of friends. Azuma is a tomboy and popular among girls as a prince while Mei is called the princess. Asada Mutsumi is a playboy who thinks girls are easy to fool. Sakurai Nao is someone who gets bullied by everyone but lives in a denial and doesn't stand up for himself. When they all meet how will their lives turn around?  

Set within a small detective agency located by along the riverside of Sumida River in Asakusa District, Tokyo. At the detective agency, there are 3 employees. Researcher Muraki, the head of the detective agency and reception clerk Megumi who has a bright personality. They receive requests that even they think is nearly impossible to perform, but they try to find a solution by carefully approaching their clients, the people around their clients and whatever is hidden in the background

Minato Shindo  has savant syndrome. His memory is amazing, but he has difficulty communicating with other people. When Minato Shindo was little, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. He met Doctor Akira Shiga and he wanted to become a paediatric surgeon. Akira Shiga was surprised by the 7-year-old's memory of the human organs and he decided to support Minato Shindo in achieving his dream. Eventually, Minato Shindo graduated from medical school and passed the national exam for medical practitioners. Now, Akira Shiga works as a director at a large hospital. He suggests to Minato Shindo to work in the pediatric surgery department at the hospital where he works.

In the late Tokugawa Shogunate, Asa was born as the second daughter of a wealthy merchant in Kyoto, Japan. Later, in Osaka, Asa entered various business fields like coal mines, banks, life insurance. She also founded the first female university in Japan.   

July 1590, Odawara. Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army had surrounded the Odawara Castle for over 3 months, hoping to conquer this last obstacle to his dream of the country's unification. Standing at the gate of the castle, a lone man facing the menacing guards shouted out: "Do not throw your lives away. Treasure living!". Not long after, the castle gates opened and the reigning lord surrendered. The name of that man is Kuroda Kanbee. An excellent military strategist, he worked hand-in-hand with Hideyoshi to unify the country. Kanbei's family had fled to Harima, and were relatively poor. As the protege of Kodera Masamoto, Kanbei was very much trusted and relied upon by his lord liege. Kanbei became the head of the Kuroda clan at 22 years of age. Masamoto was aging and he very much wanted someone to take over his responsibilities, and thus he decided to marry off his much-loved daughter, Teru, to Kanbei. They were blessed with a son, but since many years had passed and yet Teru couldn't seem to conceive a second child, Kanbei decided to adopt the young children of his vassals as his proteges who were known as "Kuroda's warriors". When Kanbei turned 30, a revolutionary young lord was slowly laying siege to all the various shogunates, aiming for a unified Japan. Harima became the place where the clash between Oda and Mori Terumoto was set. Kanbei was very attracted to Oda's unification plans, and had gone to Gifu Castle to meet up with him. There, he became acquainted with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and soon became Hideyoshi's right-hand man, marking the birth of Gunshi Kanbei.

The 49th NHK Taiga drama is Ryoma den, set back in the Bakumatsu period. The story focuses on the life of Sakamoto Ryoma, who lived from 1835 to 1867. He was an important leader in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Bakufu, eventually bringing about the Meiji Restoration. He was also one of the founders of modern day Japanese navy through incorporation of western technology, which proved to be a force to be reckoned with during the revolution.  

Shibusawa Eiichi was born in 1840 to a farmer’s family. He grew up helping his family with work, which was to manufacture and sell indigo production and also silk farming. He left his hometown at the age of 23 and began working for the government. He later traveled to Paris and learned about banking. Upon his return to Japan, he helped build up the first modern bank in Japan. He eventually became a founder or supporter to about 500 companies and was involved with about 600 public services, including education for women.

Balsa (Haruka Ayase) is a 30-year-old female bodyguard-for-hire. Her life changes when she saves Imperial Prince Chagumu who is being carried away by a raging river. They then attempt to return the great egg of the water spirit, which is in Prince Chagumu's possession to its source in the sea. Along the way, they are hunted by hired assassins.  

Four years after her journey with Chagum ended, Balsa has become an outlaw. Concealing herself in the kingdom of Rota to the west of the New Yogo Empire, she continues to be a bodyguard. One day, Balsa saves a young girl Asura who has the ability to summon Taru Hamaya, the god of devastation. Spies of the royal family are mobilised in an attempt to eliminate her. Meanwhile, in the New Yogo Empire, Chagum who is now the crown prince, has set out on a sea voyage. The Trush Empire to the south is trying to invade the north and wages war against the seafaring kingdom of Sangal as a beachhead. Chagum leads reinforcements, but this is the emperor’s ploy to expel the crown prince. Sangal falls into the hands of the Trush Empire and Chagum ends up becoming a captive.  

Balsa and the crown prince Chagum travel together again. The young boy who survived because he was protected by Balsa, has gone through suffering and grown into a splendid crown prince. Balsa starts to expose the conspiracy that lies hidden deep in the bowels of her beautiful homeland of the Kingdom of Kambal. And then, Chagum stands up to the attack of the Talsh Empire which has targeted the New Yogo Empire. A natural disaster occurs that shakes the land. Gold birds flutter in the sky.

Three tales raise unsettling questions about the central qualities of being human. In one, a father is torn between love for his son and the desire for revenge, while a second examines the twisted love of a teacher for his female colleague. The third story delves into the complex affections hidden within a bully.

Akiko lives with her mother, but suddenly her mother passes away. Since then she quits her editing job and takes over her mother's small restaurant. At the restaurant there's only two items on the menu: sandwich and soup.  

The story begins with a girl who has no family, strayed from the right path and lost her perspective in life, meeting a much older woman. Both of them were deceived, betrayed and have lost faith in other people, but somehow they gravitate towards each other and so the older woman gives shelter to the girl. Triggered by a certain incident, the two of them eventually find true humanity.  

Maki Maki, Sebuki Suzume, Beppu Tsukasa and Iemori Yutaka happen to meet and form a quartet. They even begin to live together in Karuizawa during the winter, but there is a big hidden secret. Maki, who has a negative personality and barely gives her opinions, plays the lead violin in the quartet. She has family and only goes to Karuizawa on the weekends for performances. Suzume, who is unemployed, plays the cello, while Yutaka plays the viola in the quartet. The leader of the quartet and the one providing  his grandfather's villa as a base for them is Tsukasa. He plays the second violin in the quartet and comes from a musical family. A man of many secrets,  he also works at a donut company.  

A striking drama of the amazingly gifted surgeon Zaizen Goro, caught up by his desire for power and fame, and his contemporary physician Satomi Shuji, who selflessly continues a quest to save human lives. This serious drama depicts the lives of these two contrasting personalities and the people around them. The Great White Tower returns again to the television screen for the first time in 25 years! The Great White Tower is the title of a representative novel by Yamazaki Toyoko that depicts the hidden side of the medical world and the dignity of human life, thus shocking and moving many readers, marking a milestone in medical dramas. A dense human drama develops starting with the first half, which depicts the tragicomic circumstances arising from human ambition in the selection of professors, and proceeding to the second half, which inquires into the dignity of human life through a medical court case involving a malpractice suit.  

This drama is set in the late 1960s decade of Japan and depicts the rivalry between Manpyo Daisuke, a powerful banker, and his eldest son, Manpyo Teppei, the executive managing director of a steel firm. For reasons not yet entirely clear, Daisuke seems to dislike his own son and when Teppei finds out why, the Manpyo family is turned upside down with fatal consequences.  

his story follows a young man named Makoto, who lives in Ikebukuro West Gate Park, an area known for youth delinquency and gangs. In fact, one of Makoto's best friends from high school, Takeshi, is the "king" or leader, of one such gang, called the G-Boys. Makoto is known for being tough and smart, and while trying to solve the mystery of a friend's death, he finds himself a somewhat unwilling helper in many mysteries and problems of IWGP inhabitants. All the while, gang tension is mounting between his best friend's gang (which Makoto refuses to join) and a new gang, the "Black Angels".  

Hikuma Koichi, a former saxophone player who has turned his back on music due to the aftereffects of an accident, becomes the advisor of a small brass band at a run-down high school. He has to deal with problem students who have lost their dreams as well as the teachers’ opposition to a professional musician entering the classroom. The path is not easy for him. Even so, Hikuma rediscovers his dream, confronts the students head-on and starts to coach the band. Despite their bewilderment, the students begin to reciprocate his passion for music.  

Investigations on a mysterious woman Toko started when Sonoe, a teacher and Toko's fellow faculty member, was found dead as a result of what seemed to be an unfortunate accident. Eiki, an insurance investigator, and Takeshi, an ambitious police detective, find links between this case and the deaths of Toko's 3 fiances, and are determined to uncover the truth.  

Mineko Kaneko learns that she has a brain tumour, leaving her with little time left to live. Koji Amane is a freeloader with few dreams or life goals. A cat brings them together.

20-year-old Hokuto is being detained as a murderer and tells his court-appointed lawyer Takai Soichi to get him the death penalty. Hokuto was actually severely abused by his parents in his childhood and starved of love. He met Kondo Ayako who became his foster mother through child welfare services and learned love for the first time. Released from the darkness of his mind, he started to feel like a new person but he is made sport by bizarre fate and becomes a murderer.  

A 6-people high school friend group Masaomi, Sho, Runa, Daichi, Hiyori, and Haruto gathered in a luxurious Western-style building after receiving an invitation from the alumni association. They were greeted by a man who seemed to be a butler in the mansion and were pleased to see him again, but no other attendees were found. When they were wondering, a flashy man who seemed to be the owner of the hall appeared, calling himself as a Game Master and told them: "I'm going to ask everyone to play the game. Can I call it "Murder Mystery"? Find out the criminal who killed Inoue Honoka." On December 3, five years ago, when six people gathered as an alumni association, it was the anniversary of their classmate Inoue Honoka's death when she jumped off the roof of the school. A suicide note was left behind, and as a result of a police investigation, she was determined to have committed suicide. But the Game Master says "Inoue Honoka was killed" and "there is a criminal among these six".

Gamagori Futaro has been poor since the day he was born. As a child his recklessly wasteful and abusive father sunk the family into debt and disappeared, leaving Futaro and his sick mother to fend for themselves. With no money to pay for medical treatment for his ailing mother, she eventually died. After her death Futaro became obsessed with money and willing to do anything for it. Several years pass and Futaro finds himself working at "Mikuni Shipbuilding" where he meets the company president's daughters Midori, who was his former classmate, and her younger sister Akane, who is disabled, and like Futaro, has a scarred face. In a plot to acquire their fathers company, Futaro begins to get close the sisters...  

Ryuji Ameno graduated from a medical school out in a province. He is now a doctor-in-training in the surgery department at a hospital in Tokyo. Every day, he is scolded by senior doctors for not being able to do something or know something. Ryuji Ameno feels helpless when he sees patients and their families, because the patients and their families think he is a doctor. Ryuji Ameno feels he is unable to satisfy their expectations. He cries over patients that he is unable to save, but he never loses his strong will and passion to become a doctor. Ryuji Ameno grows into a real doctor with his fellow doctors-in-training.

Several nights after the wife of university professor Hirokawa Seiji died of illness, an unknown woman visits their house and asks if his wife is at home. When he hurriedly opens the front door, no one is there. At that moment, the president of the university dies all of a sudden. This is accompanied by a new style of elections open to the students too. The professors become paranoid of each other and anonymous documents containing defamatory statements fly about. A disquieting air begins to hang in the air. Hirokawa has had a close relationship with his wife’s younger sister Mizushima Rei, who is a popular lecturer in the same university, since his wife was alive. They were together at the moment she died. His guilty conscience begins to stir up a vague sense of uneasiness towards the neighborhood and the elections. Before long, the body of a person who died a bizarre death is found at a garbage dump nearby… 

In a house in the outskirts of Tokyo, there lives a family of eight. Such a large family is rare these days; however, not one is related by blood. They all lost a loved one in the same holiday accident. Moved by Shogo's suggestion that they all move in together, they have gathered in this house. Each of them has their own issues, making for the start of a tumultuous home life. Tsuyoshi Domoto stars as the passionate yet sentimental lead, Shogo. Diametrically opposed in character and thinking is Tomohiko (Yusuke Santamaria). The story centres on these two as they butt heads at every turn, and the eight grow closer together as a family. This is a human drama full of heart and mixed with laughs and tears depicting a group of deeply wounded people beginning to believe in tomorrow and live life more positively.

The 17-year-old Yatabe Mineko grew up in a family of seven in a mountain village in northeastern Ibaraki Prefecture. Her father Minoru has gone to Tokyo to work in order to earn extra money. However, her life completely changes when her father does not come back for the New Year. Mineko asks her family to let her go to Tokyo to find him and promises to send money home. In the autumn of 1964, she and two childhood friends Tokiko and Mitsuo are hired to start working at a small factory in Tokyo’s working class neighborhood. After work each day, Mineko searches for her father and gets disheartened at times. Mineko overcomes challenges and starts to lay down roots in Tokyo as she experiences many meetings and farewells amid the laughter and tears with regulars, people of the shopping street, friends, and colleagues. But will she be able to find her father?

A psychological drama about unhealthy interpersonal relationships explained often through elaborate flashbacks. Takanako Mayuko, who grew up in an idyllic mansion with the perfect loving family, blames her childhood best friend for everything that has gone wrong in her life. While maintaining the façade of friendship, Mayuko finalizes the revenge she’s been secretly plotting for decades.

Takato Natsu, a popular screenwriter, lives with her husband Shogo, who is now working as her manager but used to be a TV station director. Natsu cannot suppress her strong sexual desire and has an affair with Theatre Director Shizawa. Natsu leaves her home after sensing that her husband is trying to control her and is interfering with her work.

When Rei Tamaki was a child, her parents died in an airplane accident in France. She grew up in a difficult environment and money was always hard to come by. Now in her 30's, Rei visits the accident site where her parents died. There, she meets Kazunari Shibusawa, who lost his wife in the same accident. Kazunari is the budget director for the Ministry of Finance. Rei falls in love with Kazunari and marries him. Kazunari has two sons who are now adults. His first son, Hitoshi, follows in his father's path. Hitoshi works in the Ministry of Finance. His second son, Kenji, graduated from law school and is now preparing for the bar exam. Because of Rei, who tries to get close to Hitoshi and Kenji, and her beautiful appearance, the Shibusawa family begins have friction. Hitoshi is attracted to Rei. Rei begins to realize that what she wants from Kazunari is not love, but her late father's shadow.

Usami Kei is a salaryman who has risen in status due to his engagement with Mei, the wealthy daughter of his company's president. Shortly after she breaks off the engagement, a power failure leaves him stuck in the elevator of his apartment building. Trapped with him are three others living on the same floor - Airu, a trilingual interpreter, Ojiro, a fashion photographer, and Masato, a psychiatrist. While waiting, their conversation hits upon their love lives and the question of whether there is truly only one fated partner for everyone. As a result, they decide to try "shuffling" their relationships with each other.

I never thought I would see him again. Aki Terada said goodbye to her first love long ago. When her current boyfriend is caught cheating on her, Aki moves out of her apartment and into a sharehouse, where she's reuinted with her first love. When things get heated between them, he drops a major bomb … Heart and body and everything in between intersect in this fresh new adult love story.

Michima Shin is a 30-years-old lonely and unpopular novelist who lives alone in a big house. Shin's father is a convicted murderer, awaiting capital punishment, who killed 3 people, including his wife, Shin's mother.  One day, five mysterious women showed up at Shin's house saying that they received an invitation to live with him in exchange of paying 1 million yen a month in rent. They set up rules for Shin such as no asking questions and no entering the women's rooms.  Six months later, Shin is used to the presence of those women, however, one day, an incident occurs that changed everything.

Kaori  works as a design planner for a housing manufacturer. She has been having a secret affair with her married boss Fuyuki for years. Although Kaori can't see a future with Fuyuki, she still loves him and continues their relationship. One day Haruto,  the newly-transferred  young and hot New York interior designer finds them in a compromising position.  Subsequently,  Kaori and Haruto are teamed up on design project. Through getting to know Haruto, Kaori's fate begins to change.

Hanaoka Nao’s mother Yuriko is a single parent and a live-in confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop of long standing. That is how Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the 6-year-old son of the owner of Kogetsuan, and they become each other’s first loves. However, Tsubaki’s father is stabbed to death by someone. Nao’s mother is arrested as the suspect based on Tsubaki’s statement. Nao is kicked out while her mother passes away while under interrogation. Now daughter of a murder suspect and son of the victim, Nao and Tsubaki separate with ill feelings for each other. More than 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki  are reunited at a competition on Japanese confectionery. Tsubaki takes an interest in Nao’s creations and asks her to marry him at their first meeting without realising that she is his childhood friend. Nao hides her true identity and decides to get into Kogetsuan through her marriage to Tsubaki in order to prove her mother’s innocence. Little does she know that all sorts of adverse circumstances lie in wait. Despite being made sport of by cruel fate, Nao and Tsubaki are drawn to each other. What is the truth of the case 15 years ago?

A love story begins when Hirasawa Momoko, the cafe clerk at a hotel, meets a stranger on the hotel's observation deck. Even though they have just met, they repeatedly kiss. The next day, Momoko is unable to forget about it and learns that the man was Hase Kei, the elite hotelier who works at the same hotel and is too "perfect" for her.

Nanase Sakura is a 23-year-old rookie nurse. She met Doctor Kairi Tendo several years ago and fell in love with him. To meet him again, she studied hard and became a nurse. After 5 years, she finally meets Kairi Tendo again, but he has a totally different personality than what she imagined. Kairi Tendo, who is 31-years-old, is commonly referred to as the "Devil" at work. He is a level-headed perfectionist and often makes biting remarks to doctors and nurses. Nanase Sakura works hard to receive recognition from Kairi Tendo and she also expresses her feelings honestly to him. Due to her persistence, Nanase Sakura becomes well known at the hospital and she picks up the nickname of the "Warrior. Chick" Meanwhile, Kairi Tendo becomes attracted to Nanase Sakura.

"Transit Girls" tells the story of two girls, aged 18 and 21, who become stepsisters when their parents remarry. The girls clash at first but then fall in love.  

Twenty-one year old former high school baseball player, Kohei (nickname: Bussan), learns that he is dying from cancer. He is told that he only has six months to live, and decides that he wants to do something daring and risky. He proposes to five trusted members from his former baseball club that they form a ring of cat burglars that would steal from those who commit crimes. His friends think it odd, but feel they cannot turn down a dying man's request. With only six months, how much could they do anyway?

Maria is in need of money. Because her day-time job doesn’t pay enough, she works at night at a cabaret. She needs the money so that she can pay for her sister, Nana’s eyes operation. When both Maria and Nana were younger, Maria burned down the home, causing her sister’s blindness and killing their father (mother survived.) Shiro is a famous concert pianist. However, he isn’t happy with his marriage or his life in general. Maria and Shiro are united through a traffic accident, causing Shiro to be hospitalized. Faking amnesia and his identity, he stays at Maria’s place and eventually starts to work at the cabaret as a piano player. As you will find out later on, life was not meant for Maria and Shiro to find one another.

Hatanaka Kosaku is a talented boxer who turned pro at the age of 19, winning his debut match with a first-round KO. He is talented, but he has no guts. His uncontrollable appetite is an even bigger problem. He can't put himself in the right weight class, he runs out of energy because of hunger, and he gets knocked out while his eyes are set on food at the ringside. However, Kosaku's life changed when he met Sister Angela, a novice nun in the convent near his boxing gym. She became the source of his power, and Kosaku fights only to win her heart