Netflix keeps on trying to get me to watch “Old Enough!”, a reality show of extremely young children (we’re talking 2-4 year olds here) being sent alone on errands for the first time (likely because I’ve watched other Japanese content and it doesn’t recognize the genre differences in foreign material). Not my kind of programming.
Anyway, sitting here contemplating the whole thing- if this were to occur here in the USA, several things would happen simultaneously:
If the child was even allowed to use mass transit or to walk into the stores (many stores and malls here ban all children under the age of 18 without a parent), the cashier would not sell to them, and likely delay them and call the police, who would turn them over to child protective services and the child would be put into foster care for parental neglect. That is, if the child gets to the store at all and wasn’t kidnapped by a violent pedophile along the way.
Gochisōsan(ごちそうさん?) is a Japanese television drama series. Which debuted on 30 September 2013. It is scripted by Yoshiko Morishita, who wrote such dramas as Jin, and stars Anne Watanabe as Meiko Uno, a woman who lives through the Taisho and Showa eras and tries to excel at Japanese cuisine.
Drama’s can be one of the most enjoyable ways to practice your Japanese listening ability, expand your vocabulary, and understand Japanese language used in every-day situations. For those reasons and more, I present to you 5 of my favourite ‘vintage’ and easy to watch Japanese dramas!
So we start with one of the most popular Drama’s of all time in Japan. Densha Otoko (“Train Man”) tells the story of an Otaku who gets to know a beautiful woman on a train after attempting to rescue her from an attack. He posts about this relationship on a Japanese message board, and the drama centers around the advice he receives from the board’s users.
This drama is amazing and you will love it regardless of your interests. It’s wacky, cheesy, hilarious, but also sincere and there are some tear-jerking moments. Most of all, it shows human emotion in a lovely way. I have to warn you though, it’s a rollercoaster ride (train ride?) - your emotions will be up and down with each episode!
4. 結婚できない男 [Kekkon Dekinai Otoko] (The Man Who Can’t Marry)
Next we have a drama with another male protagonist, a 40-year old architect who can’t marry. Or rather, he doesn’t want to. The drama revolves around this man who prefers to be alone but is forced to make friendships and relationships with people around him.
I love Natsukawa Yui who plays the love interest in this drama, and the way the relationship between her and Kuwano (main guy) develops. This drama is really heartwarming and addictive, definitely worth a watch.
Note: trailer is for the second series, “The man who still can’t marry”, released this year!
3. 私が恋愛できない理由 [Watashi Ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu] (The Reason I Can’t Find My Love)
This is a different drama to the previous two, in that it revolves around 3 women. However, similarly they cannot find love. This is supposedly a common problem in Japanese society in general and is the topic of many dramas.
This is a great show about the friendships between modern working women who have trouble finding love.
2. 結婚しない [Kekkon Shinai] (I won’t Marry/Wonderful Single Life)
Another drama centering around being unable to find love, but I just loved this drama. The three main actors are great, I especially love Amami Yuki as the main actress (she also appears in BOSS, a good old drama), and Kanno Miho (main actress) is super cute.
Finally, my most favourite drama of the 2010′s. This takes a different genre to the other drama’s as it isn’t based on a love story but on the difficulties faced working as a newbie in the Tokyo Airport control tower.
I knew nothing about aeroplanes, airports or control towers or had any interest in them, but this is so beautifully filmed and well acted that I was actually really interested in it. The drama is great quality and still feels modern.
Today Japanese people in Tokyo learned what the English on their shirt meant. 0/10 knew what their shirt had written on them. Then they interviewed this girl on the street and explained to her the meaning of “Holy S#*t” since it was on her shirt. She immediately became embarrassed. The English translator had her say it with him with proper pronunciation.
Boys over flowers (2009) The story of Geum Jandi, a normal girl who finds herself attending a prestigious private school after saving a student’s life (very dramatic and spicy). Based off of the Japanese manga with the same name.
Noble, My Love (2015)⭐️ A chance meeting with a veterinarian turns a successful CEO’s life upside down. He’s really protective and affectionate but she doesn’t give him the time of day. ~mini series~
Descendants of the Sun (2016) A love story between Captain Yoo Shi Jin, Korean Special Forces, and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon, surgeon at Haesung Hospital. Together they face danger in a war torn country. (really cute and funny)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016-2017)❤️ A story about a group of college athletes who are fighting for their dreams, experiencing and finding love in the process, and growing every step of the way.
Suspicious Partner (2017)❤️ Life is upended for a prosecutor after meeting his new intern who becomes a prime murder suspect soon after joining his office.
I’m Not a Robot (2017-2018)❤️ A woman becomes entangled in a strange love triangle after pretending to be a robot that looks exactly like her.
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)❤️ Jinkook is a homocide detective that’s getting weary of his job, the only light in his life is his younger sister, Jinkang. He has been very protective os her ever since their parents passed away. Jinkook believes that his sister’s new love interest may have been involved in his ex girlfriends suicide.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018) Problems arise when a narcissistic executive romances his secretary.
Thirty but Seventeen (2018)❤️ When Woo Seori was 17, she fell into a coma. Thirteen years later, she wakes up. She finds the man who caused her accident, who is so stricken by grief he can’t maintain any kind of relationship.
W (2016)❤️ - A surgical resident is pulled into the webtoon world of W, which was created by her father, and becomes entangled in a murder mystery.
Japanese
Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo 1 (2013) A clumsy high school girl is at the bottom of her class, and she has had a crush on a popular genius, ever since she first laid eyes on him. They have to move in together after her home is destroyed.
Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo 2 (2014) The two are now married and working together, Naoki as a doctor and Kotoko as a nurse. Kotoko struggles with her insecurities due to Naoki not showing his feelings (sometimes her acting got on my nerves but her crying/angry scenes were amazing!).
Good Morning Call 1 (2016-2017) Nao has to share her new apartment with the most popular boy in school and no one can know they live together. (involves a mini love triangle and is super cute)
Good Morning Call 2 (2017) - Nao and Uehara are now in college and are neighbors, Uehara’s new best friend slowly developes feelings for Nao as Uehara’s new boss starts to like him.
Overprotected Kahoko (2017)❤️ Is too much love really love? Shielded by her parents, Kahoko grew up completely pampered. She is 21 years old and about to start working for a company, but she has never slept away from home, had a part time job, chosen her own clothes, or even ridden a train alone.
Chinese
A love so beautiful (2017)⭐️ The ups and downs of school, family and growing up test the affection between a budding artist and her handsome but indifferent classmate and neighbour. (follows them from school to marriage)
My Mr. Mermaid (2017)⭐️ the story of competitive college swimmers and a rookie reporter’s comedy love story. This is such a sweet and charming show, the male lead is always worrying about her and making sure she’s ok. it’s just the cutest thing ever. plus his best friend and mom are hilarious and high key ship it.
Meteor Garden (2018)⭐️ Dong Shancai is determined to excel at her dream university, where she encounters an elite clique of dashing, popular high-achievers – and finds love. (the Chinese version of Boys Over Flowers but a little different, I actually like this adaptation more)
Taiwanese
Attention, My Love! (2017) ❤️ A long time ago, two best friends each had a child. One named his son Li Zheng, which means “attention,” and the other named his daughter Shao Xi, which means “at ease” in military terminology. They are destined to be together.
