RECOMMENDED/FAVORITE JDRAMAS (ask for suggestions here)

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Don't recognise some of the jdrama names in the last few posts, wonder if they will be subbed at some point.

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Here are some of the dramas that I recommend:

Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi - this series completely swiped up the season's drama awards, and it's easy to see why. It's a talented-cast ensemble with Kimura Takuya, Fukatsu Eri, Akashiya Sanma, and Shibasaki Kou. The soundtrack is amazing, the acting is fabulous, and it has a great story to go along with to boot. There's lots of twists and turns along the way. I usually don't like Kimura Takuya (you could go so far as to say, I usually avoid dramas if I hear that he plays a leading role) but he does a great job in this. It's good for repeated viewings too because there is a lot of foreshadowing in the earlier episodes that you might miss the first time around.

Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu - Amazing.Hirosue Ryoko plays the part of a blind girl with a chip on her shoulder, and Watabe Atsuro as the smooth-talking host with a huge debt in his hands who pretends to be her brother in order to inherit the millions she's bound to receive at her 18th birthday. Watabe Atsuro just blew me away with this one. I wasn't impressed at all by his performance in First Love, but there's not even a trace of that wimpy character in this series. Fujiwara Tatsuya (from Battle Royale, Death Note) is a side character here, and you can definitely see why he's as popular as he is now.

Byakuyakou - I didn't watch it during its original run because I wasn't a big fan of either of the leads (I watched Sekai no Chuushin de Ai wo Sakebu the drama version, and I abandoned it halfway through). This has a great cast as well, with Takeda Tetsuya (Kinpachi-sensei anyone?) and...what do you know, Watabe Atsuro again ^^ I really liked how episode one starts at the very end, and works its way backwards to the climax in the last episode. The girl who played Shindou Hikaru in Joou no Kyoushitsu is believed to be a prodigy, and it's really obvious here.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I watched At Home Dad earlier this year and really enjoyed it (I'm a father, so I could relate!) and have been watching Densha Otoko, which is great.

I'm not sure what to watch next! I tried a few episodes of Gokusen, but didn't really care for it (seemed a bit cheesy to me). Suggestions? I like funny stuff that's not too cheesy, nothing too heavy or serious.

Listed in no particular order.

1. Densha Otoko*
2. Hanazakari no kimi tachi e*
3. Hana Yori Dango*
4. Hana Yori Dango Returns*
5. Gokusen*
6. First Kiss*
7. Lunch Queen*
8. Nobuta wo Produce
9. Orange Days*
10. Hachimitsu to Kuroba*
11. Bara no nai Hanaya*
12. H2: Kimi to Itahibi*
13. Detective Conan SP 1, 2*
14. Proposal Daisakusen**********************************
15. Nodame Cantabile*
16. Maison Ikkoku

Most of these dramas were very good and are worth watching.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Some of my fav jdoramas:

School comedies:
1) GTO (A must watch!)
2) Hana Kimi (This ignited my jdorama fever...)
3) Nobuta wo Produce (Horikita Maki and Yamapi!)
4) Dragon Zakura (Abe HIroshi and Yamapi!!! Makes u want to study...)
5) Gokusen 2 (Ihaven't watched the first one... Heard it was better though...)
6) Yamada Taro Monogatari (Pleasant watching but not enough bishies^^...)

Romance/Comedies:
1) Proposal Daisakusen^^
2) Hana Yori Dango (I was at a loss trying to decide whether this goes on top... But i settled for Pi!)
3)Hotaru no Hikari (If you can bear all the jersey talk... Nicely shot...)
4) Kekkon Dekinai Otoko (All around excellent comedy u can watch with the family.. Funny! Ken-chan!)

In a class of its own:
1) Nodame Cantabile (Brilliant and hilarious!)

Others you can try watching in your free time:
1 Litre of Tears (Tissues!)
Waterboys (Only the parts where they perform are worth watching...)
Kurosagi (If you are a die-hard yamapi fan..)
Lunch no Joou
Pride

I enjoyed all of these! (My friend recommended Antique but word is, the subs are atrocious. Softsubs, someone, pleeeaassee...) Thinkin of watching My Boss My Hero next... But I'd really like a romantic comedy... Any suggestions? Besides the ones above?

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

recently.. I LOVe bara no nai hanaya!! Damn, it's sooooooo good and tonnes of twists in this series.

Nodame Cantabile +SP.. I can watch this over and over again!

Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:26 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Bara no nai hanaya sounds a bit too much of a "nice" drama from what i've read of the description. Prefer twisted dramas like Trick and M no Higeki.

Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

You should watch Hero by Takuya Kimura

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:37 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:01 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

10 great Dramas I definitely recommend [in no particular order]:

Romance/High School
1] Hanazakari no Kimitachi e [extremely funny and extremely fun. Watch this one for a pick-me-up or something. I also recommend the manga, it is amazing. It shows all the awkwardness and happy-go-lucky times in high school, while of course being absolutely silly. I am REALLY looking forward to the special thats supposed to come out in June...or July or somewhere around that time!]
2] Nobuta wo Produce [not exactly a romance per se, but its probably one of the best, in my opinion of course, high school dramas. The characters are well thought out, and fun, and the music is just superb. Kamenashi Kazuya is extremely delectable and did a wonderful job.]
3] My Boss My Hero [While the main character is almost AGONIZINGLY stupid, it makes for a wonderful drama. Also, probably the only drama I've cried watching since I absolutely refuse to watch depressing dramas because I know I'll never be able to get over how sad they are.]
4] Hana Yori Dango 1&2 [This series is THE MOST like a soap opera, but despite its repetitive plot twisting and despite the fact that it gets REALLY annoying having everyone fighting ALL the time it is probably the most addicting, funniest, saddest, happiest drama I've watched. That is also probably why its gone on for 2 seasons and they're making a movie of it. Matsumoto Jun does a spectacular job. I totally fell in love with his character.]
5] Yamada Taro Monogatari [This series is just really sweet. Another pick-me-up kind of series.]
6] Proposal Daisakusen [I've only just started this series but it seems very good. I know I shouldn't recommend it since I haven't seen the whole thing but it really does seem too good to not put on this list.]
7] Densha Otoko [Densha Otoko was the first Japanese drama I ever watched...I watched it while I was an exchange student in Japan when it had just started airing on T.V. and I almost absolutely fell in love with it. Oguri Shun is in it for a little bit and I thought he was the sexiest thing since...I dunno. My taste has changed a little, though, but even so Densha Otoko, for me, will always be one of the best. It's sweet and sad and funny and depressing all at the same time but I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a touching story.]
8] Himitsu no Hanazono [second j-drama I ever watched and I thought it was great. The story is fun, the romance is cute, and I always forget the name so I call it shabu-shabu, which you might understand if you watched it.]

Other
9] Gokusen 1&2 [This drama is great. Period. It doesn't even matter that its not a romance. Personally I liked the second season more than the first, but only because they don't do anything with Matsumoto Jun's thing at the end. Not going to say anymore about it because I don't want to spoil anything...though if anyone knows what I'm talking about and knows why they didn't I would LOVE to know.]
10] Akihabara@DEEP [I haven't really heard much about this drama, however, it is really something people should watch if they liked Densha Otoko and don't mind watching stuff that is obviously bull but really fun at the same time. It's basically about a bunch of otaku's banding together to form a troubleshooting business for the district of Akihabara which is the...otaku haven of Tokyo. If you start it, watch all the way to the end because the last episode is pretty awesome. Also, Ikuta Toma is great in this. If you love Ikuta Toma, you will MORE THAN LIKELY love it because they have many many many close ups pinch

, also I think its good to go into watching this knowing its not going to be totally realistic in a more drastic way than most dramas so...yeah.]

Sorry I had so many comments, but I think all these dramas are great. I've seen a great number of the 'viewer rated favourites' or whatever, but for some reason I really like these the best. No matter how great a story Love Generation or 101st Marriage Proposal or Itazura na Kiss are, they seemed a little outdated which is always bad, and they all had the same kind of theme throughout. If you've seen one of these, you've seen all of these and watching something different is always a good thing.

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

not listed in any order

GTO
Gokusen (season 1)
Nobuta wo Produce
Ikebukuro West Gate Park (more people should watch this one, seriously)
Stand Up!!
Proposal Daisakusen
Hana Yori Dango (both seasons)
Nodame Cantabile
Hana Kimi
Hotaru no Hikari

and I can already tell that Last Friends will be in my favorites

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

try watch love generation. slow but romantic...

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:58 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I recently saw Mop Girl. And I liked it very much. Can anyone recommend some that has mystery and a touch of comedy? I would really appreciate that! Big Smile