Jdrama: Japanese mini-series

Ireland
February 15, 2007 1:21pm CST
Is anyone familiar with Jdrama? Many of these series run for a season, or eight to twelve episodes, and have been fansubbed and made available online for Western viewers. They range from afternoon-special soap opera plotlines, to sports-focused series, to love stories. Do you watch Jdrama? Do you have any favorite shows or series you'd particularly recommend, especially to someone who is new to the genre? Who are your favorite Jdrama actors or characters? Do you have any thoughts on how the Jdrama phenomenon compares to Western television series?
2 people like this
14 responses
• Indonesia
20 Feb 07
I like J-dorama ^^ the one i like most is dragon sakura. Anybody can watch this film(all genre). The story is about a school which will be banned beacause of the bad reputation. There is a lawyer who help this school to be a better school with teach some student and prepare them to enter tokyo university. hmm.. about japan actor.. i like yamashita tomohisa (i don't know why.. i just like him ^^)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 07
we had same interest, right? ^^ have ever seen yamapi's new drama? I heard it called "Byakotai". In this drama yamapi wear traditional japanese clothes (like chinese traditional clothes which usually wore in chinese fighthing movie series) I dunno what's it name, but when I saw his pic whic using that clothes, he looks so deifferent ^^.
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
27 Feb 07
yeah, i saw that in www.jdorama.com, too! =) i'll be downloading that if ever i find some fansubs and after i finish hana yori dango 2. Is there going to be a Kurosagi 2? I can't wait for that! =)
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
22 Feb 07
i also found myself fond of yamapi after watching him in stand up. he was so chibi back then but in kurosagi he was amazing. he was also so endearing in nobuta wo produce. his pairing with kame was funny. i also like his songs. =)
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
i like jdoramas. my favorite is Gokusen and Kimi wa peto. i actually like matsumoto jun. well, jdoramas are very entertatining to watch and the story lines are very easy to follow. howeve, i think that there is not much substance with the story. the plot and conflict is very shallow. the cohesion of the story details are sometimes not that linked. the clues are scattered all over the epsisodes and were sometimes not really credible. but i still like watching them anyway. if you're looking for a relaxing and entertaining show to watch. try jdoramas. they're fun :-)
• Ireland
16 Feb 07
I've heard Gokusen is very good, but I haven't seen anything about Kimi wa peto at all. What is it about? The only dramas I've watched are Ace wo Nerae (about girls' tennis) and Nobuta wo Produce. That's been my impression too. The shows are very easy to get into, but they aren't necessarily thought-provoking highbrow entertainment. Still, the emotional appeal is there, and I feel like even when the plotlines are utterly ridiculous, there's still something genuine behind them. I'll definitely look into Gokusen since you're the second person to recommend it to me now! (Your mylot name is really awesome, btw. :D)
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
19 Feb 07
I like Gokusen, too. It's actually the first jdorama I've watched and it opened my eyes to all the lovable jdoramas available! XD the best ones for me are: Gokusen Kimi wa petto - matsujun's really funny and cuddly here :) Stand Up - this is so funny. the first time I've seen yamapi - gawd he was so skinny back then. I also like this bcoz of all the main characters: Shun Oguri (which i totally love!!) and Ninomiya Kazunari (matsujun's band member) Hana Yori Dango and HYD 2 - obviously, i started watching this bcoz of matsujun but in the end it got me uber hooked with Shun Oguri. awwww.
@sweetrala (1436)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
Makino love Domyogi - Hana Yori Dango Jdrama
I like the Hana Yori Dango Series.Even though I was a fan of the Meteor garden Series,i still appreciate the japanese version coz its much closer to the manga storyline.I like two main character Domyoji and Makino.I think they have a good chemistry.In comparisson to western tv series,most of the western tv series are big production and big budget as well as a more risque storyline.
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
I believe Hana Yori Dango had a big production cost (imagine the Domyouji castle/house of evil and the "is this Harry Potter?" dining hall. LOL) ^____^ but yes, i believe most western tv series are big budgeted (like smallville, etc)
1 person likes this
@omanjyu (25)
• Indonesia
1 May 07
i have watch many j dorama on TV. my favorite actor: 1. Takuya kimura 2. tackey 3. kyoko fukada 4. tamaki hiroshi 5. eita i recomended to watch this: 1. StrawberryOntheShortcake (love darama) 2. GOOD LUCK! (love drama, about pilot life) 3. NODAME cantabile live action (love comedy, about clasic music) 4. Long Vacation (love comedy) 5. beauty or the beast (love comedy, about onna news)
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
2 May 07
Wow, another Nodame Cantabile recommendation! I've read so many good reviews about this series and my friend already burned me a copy of this. I'm now sooo looking forward to watching this dorama! I'll also search for the other series you mentioned. Out of all doramas in your list, I've only watched Strawberry on the Shortcake. ^____________^
@meleshia (624)
• Philippines
2 May 07
I've watched these new doramas currently aired in Japan and would like to recommend them: 1. Liar Game - stars Erika Toda (Misa in Deathnote) and Matsuda Shota (Soujiro in Hana Yori Dango). 2. Seito Shokun! - stars Uchiyama Rina (Sawamura in Strawberry on the Shortcake) and Horikita Maki (Nobuta Wo Produce) 3. Bambino - Matsujun! You can find the synopsis from wikipedia. ^_________^
@LeaPea2417 (36391)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Dec 15
No, I have not seen any of them, but would like to see one sometime.
@Lxandra79 (1535)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I love Jdramas! I watch my shows on www.crunchyroll.com Check it Out...Its Free! My fave shows that Ive watched are: Dance Drill - http://www.crunchyroll.com/showseries?id=1693 Strawberry On The Shortcake - http://www.crunchyroll.com/showseries?id=1826 14Sai No Haha - http://www.crunchyroll.com/showseries?id=1928 Those I really recommend!
• United States
19 Feb 07
I love Japanese series. I have a collection and I can burn for anyone :-) My favorite is God Please Give Me More Time and the Korean Japanese one called Friends. I have about 20 of them in video cd format with English subtitles. They are short, about 10 vcds each and have great stories like Beautiful Life.
@unuzzz (1273)
• Indonesia
21 Feb 07
yes i watch jdorama and i prefer jdorama to western tv series.. i have no idea to explain why, but just watch it.. you'll understand why.. hmm,i would recommend 'hana yori dango' and 'a beautiful life' i think those are good films to watch, nice stories.. nowadays, matsumoto jun would be the best japanese actor i think for the actress, maybe aya ueto.. she's cute and talented hehee
• Philippines
16 Feb 07
I've only recently started watching Jdramas myself, but I liked Gokusen and Hana Yori Dango; the plotlines of both aren't particularly, um, thought-provoking, but they're quite fun to watch.:D Like the previous commenter, I'm irrationally fond of Matsumoto Jun, for he is full of sparkle and gay. He tries so, so hard to be macho though, it's hilarious.
@lizeri (533)
• Philippines
2 Apr 07
I do watch J-drama. I like Gokusen and Densha Otoko (Trainman). I like their style of acting and it really inspires everyone.
• Philippines
2 Apr 07
yep, i am and i really like watching jdorama (japanese dramas) is cool watching it and i just cant help my self watching it. I have watched a lot of jdrama's lately. Kinda similar with the other asian drama's such as korean but still for me jdrama is the best just like their anime its really entertaining watching this kind of dramas
@pinkista (892)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
One of my fave jdrama is Gokusen 2, HanaYoriDango 1 & 2, Kurosagi, Nobuta wo Produce, One Litre of Tears, Dragon Zakura, and a lot more. I don't watch western tv series like Seventh Heaven or Smallville, and whatsoever. I just love asian shows
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
yeah, but sometimes its too fairy-tale like compared to the place itself. japan is soo fast paced. if your filipino you need to double your time to be able to live in a city like tokyo. he-he! i remember ive been watching morning musume everyday around 7-8:00 am and sometimes its a rerun. good jdoramas usually comes from Fuji Tv so we changed channel back then.lol. the very first jdrama that really convinced me to study nihongo was their very first Taiga series.