5 Must-Watch J-Dramas Perfect for Those Just Getting Into the Genre
J-dramas are much less popular than their Korean counteparts, but this does not mean that they are inferior in quality – among these projects you will find touching stories about love, cruel challenges in the spirit of Squid Game, and unusual medical series.
Have you seen all the Korean dramas? Let's move on to the next solid layer of the small screen projects: J-dramas. From sentimental romances to suspenseful thrillers, Japanese series rarely disappoint.
If you're new to this world, here are five must-see series from a variety of genres.
1. From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke, 2023
Kind and modest Sawako feels uncomfortable at school because her classmates call her Sadako, like the creepy girl from the movie Ring. The students believe that she sees ghosts, and if you look into her eyes for more than three seconds, you will be cursed.
As a result, the girl becomes an outcast. Fortunately, the most popular and kind boy in the school, Kazehaya, begins to communicate with her. Thanks to this, the opinion of the class gradually changes and Sawako makes friends.
Of course, the girl falls in love with her savior, but due to her modesty, she does not even suspect that the feelings are mutual.
2. Liar Game, 2007-2010
Nao Kanzaki receives a strange black box, which she opens to find 100 million yen and a note inviting her to participate in the Liar Game.
The goal of the game is to keep the money for 30 days and somehow trick another player into giving up their money. Considering the girl's naivety and honesty, it turns out to be easy to trick her, and she quickly loses her money.
In desperation, Nao turns to a professional con artist who has a talent for spotting deception.
3. A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love, 2019
Since early childhood, Harumi Junko confidently walked toward her dream of attending Tokyo University, but she failed the entrance exams. Without a higher education, she was unable to find a prestigious job, and now the 30-year-old works as a teacher.
Her personal life is not going well either, and a profile on a dating site is no help. Suddenly, almost simultaneously, three men appear in Harumi's life: a distant relative, Yakumo; a young, pink-haired Yuri; and his teacher, Harumi's former classmate Yamashita.
Harumi's quiet and boring life changes dramatically, and she will have to make a lot of effort to get it back to its former state.
4. Quartet, 2017
Four people meet in a karaoke bar. All of them are professional musicians and none of them has achieved any greatness. Two men and two women decide to form a quartet. But first they move to a country house to rehearse and get to know each other.
A month in the snowy mountains, full of conversations, arguments and beautiful music – the picture seems perfect, but not everything is so simple. Each member of the quartet has his own secrets, and in fact the musicians did not meet by chance.
5. Unnatural, 2018
A group of pathologists at the Unnatural Death Investigation Laboratory investigates the most unusual and mysterious cases of death. Their job is to examine the corpse, understand the cause, or prove that the person died of natural causes.
At the center of the story is a young and talented doctor, Mikoto Misumi, who is so fascinated by the dead that she has distanced herself from her friends and family. Poisons, viruses, murders, fatal mistakes – this is what the work of the department consists of, and it's impossible to call it boring.
