Best Jdrama

[Tonbo]

There isn't a Jdrama thread on this forum despite the insane popularity of anime. I've been getting more and more into Japanese dramas, many of which are adaptations of anime or manga anyways, so here's a list of my favorites to guide those curious in the art:

1) Nodame Contabile... my current favorite! I just finished it today and it inspired me to share this precious bit of knowledge in a post. If you love music you will love this drama. The casting is superb and the comedy is spot on. Some interesting special effects to portray anime style comedic violence in live action.

2) Densha Otoko... cause I'm a nerd and like to watch shows with nerd protagonists
3) Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO)... a porn addicted punk becomes a teacher and beats sense into other punks. classic. Gokusen is the same thing except with a female yakuza as a teacher. They both have the exact same plot so if you watch one, it will be painful to try and watch the other (but definitely watch one or the other).
4) Hana Yori Dango (1 & 2)... romantic comedy
5) Long Vacation... romantic comedy
6) Proposal Daisakusen... romantic comedy
7) Hanazakari no Kimitachi e... romantic comedy (OK, I got lazy with the descriptions. It's late.)

I recommend d-addict for your Jdrama (or Kdrama and Cdrama) needs.

Please post any recommendations you have, since I'm always looking for something good.

[Brainpiercing]

I watched SP recently. It started quite nice and had some nice fights, but overall it just didn't deliver. It also had a really bad ending, unless there will be a season 2. But the female lead (well, the only woman in it, basically) is just so damn hot.

[uncempt]

I got quite into "Slow Dance" when I was out there. It's a kinda sweet romancey thing with a bunch of friends crossing and recrossing paths etc. Some of the hottest young Japanese actors in it too.

And Densha Otoko of course. Sheer geek genius. But some scenes I just couldn't watch because of how cringe inducingly otaku the guy is. Standing up a gorgeous girl to buy manga? It's Japan! There's manga everywhere!

[Shaka Zulu]

My sisters all crazy about it. You introduce them to manga/anime, and they take it further and go into Jdorama frenzy.


Havent really bothered to get into it, because the simplistic stories get more cringeworthy when its real humans with bad acting doing them. But I tried Gokusen because we watched the anime at the time, it was fun, very predictable but fun. I then tried other series of mangas/animes I have seen/read, and yeah, not so good. GTO Jdorama is a fucking abomination, worst thing ever created. Huge fan of the manga, got teary seeing it butchered like that.

Havent really tried much stuff after that, or have, but gave up on them (one with Ken watanabe in it, and one called my boss is gangster or whatever). Gave up or stopped trying for most except Hana yori dango season 1 and 2. Was quite enjoyable even if typical sappy, mostly because the actors had some comic gold chemistry. Wouldnt mind a season 3 even if cant see much point in it.

In general it was guilty pleasure kinda thing in watching Jdorama, to test how many cringeworthy or extremely cheesy scenes you could put up with. With hana yori dango and Gokusen, it had bad moments, but mostly enjoyed it in a good way, for GTO it was rip my eyes out horrible.