Well, being a k-drama fan, I know your standards. Turning to another side would be difficult for you to match these high standards but believe me these series will leave no page to turn out. Here are best 10 Japanese Drama for Beginners.
1. Ituzara na kiss/Mischievous Kiss: Love In Tokyo (2013)
This series is the fifth drama adaptation of the well-known manga series Ituzara na Kiss written by Kaoru Tada. A perfect match for beginners. Kotoko Aihara, a high school student falls in love with a pretty boy Naoki Irie, who she meets at the high school ceremony.
Kotoko not too smart initially doesn’t express her feelings to him but finally has a chance to tell him how she feels. Naoki being handsome and known turns her down. Binge into to know why he turned her down.
Cast –
- Yahagi Honoka as Aihara Kotoko
- Furukawa Yuki as Irie Naoki
- Yamada Yuki as Ikezawa Kinnosuke
- Fujimoto Nanami as Komori Jinko
- Yamaya Kasumi as Ishikawa Satomi
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
2. Nobuta Wo Produce/You Open Yourself Just To Me (2005)
This Japanese series is adapted from the book of the same name written by Gen Shiraiwa. Kotani Nobuko, a shy girl with no confidence when steps into a new school, and her life turns upside down. She meets Kiritani Shuji, a popular guy who gets along with everyone, and Kusano Akira, who is different from Kiritani, and become close friends.
They try to change Nobuko from a dumb to a popular girl in the school. What will happen to their friendship and how it will affect Kiritani. Watch to know more.
Cast –
- Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuji
- Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
- Horikita Maki as Kotani Nobuko
- Toda Erika as Uehara Mariko
No. Of Episodes – 10
Watch On – Netflix
3. Liar Game (2007)
This series is based on a manga of the same name. This series revolves around the game of lies and cheats. Well, if we talk about Squid Game, it’s kinda same as that. For a beginner, it’s quite an interesting series.
Nao Kanzaki, a brilliant student is blackmailed to join the ‘Liar game’ where she ends up losing her 100 million yen. She goes into a huge debt. In order to repay her debt, she enlists the help of a genius swindler, Shin’ichi Akiyama. He was recently released from jail for bankrupting one of Japan’s largest scam companies. How the duo ended up making huge money, watch to end up your curiosity.
But the ending will still leave you curious. If you like the show, go for season 2 which was released in 2009.
Cast –
- Shota Matsuda as Shin’ichi Akiyama
- Erika Toda as Nao Kanzaki
- Michiko Kichise as Eri Samukukwon
- Kosuke Suzuki as Yūji Fukunaga
No. Of Episodes – 22
Watch On – Netflix
4. 1 Litre No Namida/1Litre Of Tears (2005)
This beautiful series is based on a true story of a girl, Aya Kitō who suffered from a degenerative disease and died at the age of 25. The script was taken from her diary which she used to write until she could no longer hold a pen. Her only wish was to deliver the strong message “Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing”.
Ikeuchi Aya, is an ordinary girl soon going to admit to a high school. Her parents worked at a tofu shop. She lately starts feeling down and walking strangely. Shaioka, her mother takes her to see a doctor, who informs her that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration – a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. But still, Aya didn’t give up, entered high school, went to a boarding school where her friends helped her a lot, and completed her high school education.
Her health starts worsening and continuous visits to the hospital make her dizzy but Aya still keeps on living each day of her life to the fullest until the very end. This is the best series everyone must watch as it gives a lifelong lesson, how we shouldn’t ever give up on our lives despite the worst.
Cast –
- Erika Sawajiri as Aya Ikeuchi
- Ryō Nishikido as Haruto Asou
- Naohito Fujiki as Hiroshi Mizuno
- Hiroko Yakushimaru – Ikeuchi Shioka
No. Of Episodes – 11 + 1 (Special Episode)
Watch On – Crunchyroll
Also Read: Best 5 J-Dramas Based On Manga For Manga Lovers
5. Rich Man, Poor Woman (2012)
A perfect series for a beginner.Toru Hyuga, a 29-year-old man. He is a genius tech CEO who dropped out of high school and formed the software company Next Innovation with his friend. The company became successful and is the top tech company where young people want to work. Makoto Natsui, is a 4th-year student at prestigious Tokyo University, but who still has trouble finding a job. One day, Makoto sees a magazine featuring an interview with Toru Hyuga.
She did a little research and attends a presentation for new recruits at Next Innovation. She meets Toru Hyuga, when he was delivering his speech and is made fun of in front of the others. She is embarrassed, but stands in front of him and talks back to him. He then asks for her name but she doesn’t reveal her real name and comes up with Chihiro Sawak as her name.
As soon as Toru hears the name, he becomes confused. Chihiro Sawak is her mother’s name who left her when he was young and gets affected by the incident which leads him into big trouble where he has difficulty remembering the faces. What will happen to this duo, let’s watch.
Cast –
- Oguri Shun as Hyuga Toru
- Ishihara Satomi as Sawaki Chihiro / Natsui Makoto
- Iura Arata as Asahina Kosuke
- Aibu Saki as Asahina Yoko
No. Of Episodes – 11
Watch On – Viki
6. Kimi Wa Petto/You are my pet (2017)
If you want to laugh, go for this series without wasting time thinking. The best comedy series with a great storyline. This drama is based on a manga of the same name by Ogawa Yayaoi. Iwaya Sumire, a confident career woman who completed her education at a prestigious university.
She works as an editor in a well-known newspaper company. After getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend and receiving a demotion from work, feeling completely down she heads home drunk and finds Goda Takashi, a young beautiful man hiding in a cardboard box.
Takeshi resembles her dog “Momo” so she dubs him Momo and lets him live in her house. Living together, they overcome various hardships and become close to each other. How their relationship will turn out, binge into this cute comedy series.
Cast –
- Noriko Iriyama as Sumire Iwaya
- Jun Shison as Takeshi Goda
- Takezai Terunosuke as Hasumi Shigehito
- Yanagi Yurina as Fukushima Shiori
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
Also Read: 10 Favorite BL Ships Of All Time
7. Kuragehime/Princess Jellyfish (2018)
This is again based on a hit manga series of the same name by Higashimura Akiko. Tsukimi Kurashita, a fan girl who loves jellyfish and has a lifelong dream of becoming an illustrator.
She came to Tokyo to fulfilling her dream but she neither attend the college nor sell any of her illustrations. The love for her jellyfish leads her to meet Kuranosuke Koibuchi, a young talented boy who loves fashion and his hobby is dressing up like a woman.
She then meets her brother, Shu Koibuchi and the trio became close to each other. Watch to know how her life changed and what happened to the trio.
Cast –
- Kyôko Yoshine as Tsukimi Kurashita
- Kôji Seto as Kuranosuke Koibuchi
- Haruka Kinami as Jiji
- Rio Uchida as Mayaya
No. Of Episodes – 10
Watch on – Viki
8. Meet Me After School/Chugakusei Nikki (2018)
This drama will make you cry out most. This is a great romantic series and the way the leads portrayed the emotional strain is amazing. This series is based on a manga of the same name. Hijri Suenaga, an outstanding woman who started being a teacher in a high school in a remote village.
She had a fiancee who works in a big company and has been dating him since she was in college. He lives far away from her. One of her students, Akira Kuroiwa, a 15-year-old boy who knows nothing about love but after some time starts realizing he has feelings for her.
Will he be able to confess and what will happen to this teacher and student duo? As a beginner, if you are into student-teacher chemistry, then go for this series.
Cast –
- Arimura Kasumi as Suenaga Hijiri
- Mizukami Koshi as Kuroiwa Akira
- Machida Keita as Kawai Shoutarou
- Yoshida Yoh as Haraguchi Ritsu
No. Of Episodes – 11
Watch On –Viki
9. A Story To Read When You First Fall In Love/Hajimete Koi o Shita Hi ni Yomu Hanashi (2019)
I would recommend this drama for those who want to go into the Japanese genre as a beginner it is my all-time favourite drama. This series is based on a manga of the same name. An emotional rom-com series with great chemistry and a lot of humor that will make you laugh out loud.
Harumi, a romance-dense used to be a model student in her high school days. Masashi is her funnies best friend, which will make you laugh hard with her best standard acting skills. Harumi gets rejected from the prestigious Tokyo university while her best friend is accepted, making Harumi’s life go downhill since then. She soon becomes a private teacher.
Her life changes when 3 men with totally different personalities fall in love with her. Will she be able to also finally have a date with one of them?
Cast –
- Fukada Kyoko as Harumi Junko
- Yokohama Ryusei as Yuri Kyohei
- Nagayama Kento as Yakumo Masashi
- Nakamura Tomoya as Yamashita Kazuma
No. Of Episodes – 10
Watch on – Viki
10. 99.9 Criminal Lawyer/99.9 Keiji Sunmon Bengoshi (2016)
This is a great funny drama with a great storyline. It’s about a small group of criminal lawyers, Miyama, Sada, and Tachibana, who work to clear the names of those who are falsely accused of and charged with murder.
The chemistry between them is great, and the stories themselves are amusing and entertaining. Haruhiko Madarame is the head of Madarame Law Firm which is one of the biggest law firms among the 4 big law firms. Hiroto Miyama begins to work with Atsuhiro Sada. Sada doesn’t have any interest in criminal cases which can not make money.
Will they be able to complete their job without any problem and will they be attracted to each other, watch to know. Though the end is not complete another season aired in 2018.
Cast –
- Matsumoto Jun as Miyama Hiroto
- Kagawa Teruyuki as Sada Atsuhiro
- Eikura Nana as Tachibana Ayano
- Katagiri Jin as Akashi Tatsuya
No. Of Episodes – 10
Watch On – AsianWiki
All these series are based on manga and are worth watching. For a beginner, this is quite a big package, you will love it. For more J-drama, stay tuned.
