Drama Season - Winter 2018
If this winter is going to be anything like this past fall, I'm putting on this list way more dramas than what I'll actually watch. Both because of lack of time and lack of subs (luckily, few of the dramas that were on my watchlist this fall are being subbed now, so I'm sloooowly watching them).
Anyway, these are the titles I'm most interested in.
99.9 ~ Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season 2
Trailer
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, 14 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Uda Manabu (Borderline, Tokyo Airport, Lucky Seven)
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Kagawa Teruyuki, Kimura Fumino, Aoki Munetaka, Katagiri Jin, Magy, Babazono Azusa, Baba Toru, Emi Kurara, Ikeda Takafumi, Kishii Yukino, Watanabe Makiko, Fujimoto Takahiro, Shuto Yasuyuki, Okuda Eiji, Shofukutei Tsurube, Kishibe Ittoku
Synopsis: The conviction rate for criminal cases in Japan is 99.9%. Miyama Hiroto (Matsumoto Jun) is a young, unconventional lawyer at Madarame Law Firm. He fixates on the remaining 0.1% and pursues the truth until he is satisfied. His buddy is Sada Atsuhiro (Kagawa Teruyuki), an ace in civil cases. The two of them clash with each other as they expose the hidden truth in the cases which they undertake. Ozaki Maiko (Kimura Fumino) stepped down as a judge as a result of some incident and has distanced herself from the legal field. One day, she accompanies a good friend to the law firm and has a differing opinion to Miyama. Sada who knows about Maiko’s outstanding background, recruits her. Despite Maiko’s initial reluctance and clashes with Miyama, she eventually decides to come back to the legal circle as a lawyer and joins the firm.
We have been blessed by a second season, and at first I was worried Sada wasn't going to be in it, but look at him. I've missed him and Lawyer Blueberry (I'm probably going to miss Eikura Nana's character, I hope this new lady is as good as her).
Can't. Wait.
Todome no Kisu
Trailer
Date: From 10.30 p.m., Sundays, 7 January 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Izumi Yoshihiro (Aogeba Toutoshi, Death Note, Gokuaku Ganbo)
Cast: Yamazaki Kento, Kadowaki Mugi, Suda Masaki, Arata Mackenyu, Araki Yuko, Sano Hayato, Miyazawa Hio, Hotta Akane, Karata Erika, Yamamoto Ai, Shison Jun, Mitsuishi Ken, Okunuki Kaoru, Okada Yoshinori, Yuge Tomohisa, Yamada Meikyo, Takahashi Hitomi, Koichi Mantaro, Yamada Meikyo
Synopsis: Handsome Dojima Outaro (Yamazaki Kento) is the no. 1 host of the host club Narcissus and a scum with a distorted perspective on love although he looks like a kind gentleman. He does not love anyone as a result of an incident 12 years ago, and is an aloof person who only cares about social climbing. He targets Namiki Mikoto (Araki Yuko), the daughter of a hotelier (Yamada Meikyo) whose assets are said to be worth 10 billion yen. But one day, he meets a “mysterious lady” (Kadowaki Mugi) and dies from her kiss. However, the next moment, he regains consciousness only to discover that he has been sent back seven days in time. This death and time travel repeats itself several times because of her and he gets stuck in a “death loop”...
This could easliy be trash, but I like Yamazaki Kento, so...
Unnatural (2018)
Trailer
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, 12 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Nogi Akiko (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu, Juhan Shuttai!, Soratobu Kouhoushitsu)
Cast: Ishihara Satomi, Iura Arata, Kubota Masataka, Ichikawa Mikako, Ikeda Tetsuhiro, Ryusei Ryo, Ogasawara Kai, Iio Kazuki, Matsushige Yutaka, Yakushimaru Hiroko
Synopsis: Misumi Mikoto (Ishihara Satomi) is only one out of approximately 170 registered forensic pathologists in Japan. She has 1,500 autopsies under her belt and trained as an associate professor at medical school. Mikoto arrived at the newly established Unnatural Death Investigation (UDI) Lab four months ago. People who died of unnatural causes are constantly brought to the UDI which has assembled specialists in determining such causes of death. The team members are fellow forensic pathologist Nakado Kei (Iura Arata), records officer Kube Rokuro (Kubota Matsutaka), lab technician Shoji Yuko (Ichikawa Mikako) and director Kamikura Yasuo (Matsushige Yutaka).
From the plot, it seems nothing special BUT! Nogi Akiko is That scriptwriter who can create a beautiful jewel from boring stuff (a drama about Air Self Defence Forces seems rather boring, especially because it's about the "office work", doesn't it? But Soratobu Kouhoushitsu is actually one of the best things EVER. Anyway), so I believe that this one could be good too.
Repeat ~ Unmei o Kaeru Juukagetsu
Date: From 11.59 p.m., Thursdays, 11 January 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Izumisawa Yoko (IQ246, Omukae desu, Lunch no Akko-chan)
Cast: Kanjiya Shihori, Hongo Kanata, Gori, Shimazaki Haruka, Shimizu Kei, Fukuda Tenkyu, Ino Hiroki, Matsuda Satoshi, Tezuka Satomi, Adachi Yumi (guest star), Rokkaku Seiji
Synopsis: Shinozaki Ayumi (Kanjiya Shihori) receives a strange call telling her that an earthquake will occur one hour from now. She hangs up the phone thinking it was just a prank call. But one hour later, she feels herself sway a little. When she turns on the television, she realises that what the caller said about the time and the epicentre was on the mark. After that, she receives another phone call from the same caller who identifies himself as Kazama (Rokkaku Seiji). He says that he knows what will happen in the future because he went back to a certain spot from the future and made a fresh start in life. Calling this time travel “Repeat”, he invites Ayumi to be his guest. Besides Ayumi, Mori Keisuke (Hongo Kanata) and Tendo Taro (Gori) are among the eight people who have been invited by Kazama to participate in “Repeat”. These eight people who are making a repeat as a result of past regrets, are hit with a series of unanticipated events.
It seems cool tbh, I hope it's not too weird/"scary"/disturbing. For some reason it makes me think of Gantz, but I'm aware it has nothing to do with it.
Kuragehime
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, 15 January 2018
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Tokunaga Yuichi (Bokutachi ga Yarimashita, Kirawareru Yuuki, Tantei no Tantei)
Cast: Yoshine Kyoko, Seto Koji, Kudo Asuka, Kinami Haruka, Matsui Rena, Uchida Rio, Toyama Eriko, Kaname Jun, Yasui Junpei, Kitaoji Kinya
Synopsis: 20-year-old Kurashita Tsukimi (Yoshine Kyoko) became entranced by jellyfishes at an aquarium that her late mother brought her to during her childhood. She comes to Tokyo from Kagoshima with dreams of becoming an illustrator. However, she avoids contact with the outside world together with a group of female geeks (Kinami Haruka, Matsui Rena, Uchida Rio, Toyama Eriko) who call themselves the Ama-zu. The Ama-zu only immerse in their own world. They regard fashionable people as natural enemies and say they do not need men in their lives. Tsukimi is enjoying life when a pair of siblings show up in front of her. Koibuchi Kuranosuke (Seto Koji), the older brother, is a cross-dressing male who appears to be a very beautiful woman but actually is a handsome playboy. Shu (Kudo Asuka), the younger brother, is the secretary to their father Keiichiro (Kitaoji Kinya) who is an influential Diet lawmaker, and has not had any experience with females. Tsukimi becomes aware of romance with the two of them and a love triangle develops.
I believe this is a famous manga/anime, it seems ok, I hope it's fun and a nice romance.
Ashita no Kimi ga Motto Suki
Trailer
Date: From 11.05 p.m., Saturdays, 20 January 2018
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: Izawa Man (Dousoukai, Hyouten)
Cast: Ichihara Hayato, Ito Ayumi, Shirasu Jun, Morikawa Aoi, Shida Mirai, Mita Yoshiko, Yanagiba Toshiro, Watanabe Dai
Synopsis: Matsuo Ryo (Ichihara Hayato) is a landscape garden designer who quite openly says that females are trouble and is cool to romance. Satokawa Akane (Ito Ayumi) is a secretary who keeps having relationships with useless men and is at the point of giving up on love. Shirosaki Haruhi (Shirasu Jun) is a new employee at Akane’s company who has another side in complete contrast to his friendly character. Tanno Kaoru (Morikawa Aoi) works at a factory in the day and a girls bar at night while troubled by her sexual identity. These four do not have it easy in love. Furthermore, Akane’s younger sister Kuroda Azusa (Shida Mirai) who stole her boyfriend Kuroda Tomohiro (Watanabe Dai) and went on to marry him, gets involved in their romances.
I'm going to put this here because I'm curious and I want to watch some good romance, but I'm not 100% sure. Also, I like Ichihara Hayato, but I've come to realize that for me he'll always be the kid from Rookies who said "Koshien" in a funny way (I miss that drama). So it's strange for me seeing him in other roles, even if he's good. Furthermore, I don't really like the rest of the cast. We'll see.
Kimi ga Kokoro ni Sumitsuita
Trailer
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 16 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriters: Yoshizawa Tomoko (Anata no Koto was Sorehodo, Damena Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai, Dr DMAT), Tokuo Koji (Aino Kekkon Soudanjo, Thrill Series, Konkatsu Deka)
Cast: Yoshioka Riho, Kiritani Kenta, Ishibashi Anna, Muro Tsuyoshi, Suzuki Sarina, Seto Asaka, Mukai Osamu
Synopsis: Ogawa Kyoko (Yoshioka Riho) works for the materials division of a lingerie maker. She is nicknamed Kyodoko because of her timidly suspicious behaviour in front of other people due to her extremely low self-esteem. Kyoko wavers between two charming men who have contrasting personalities. One of them is her handsome senior Hoshina Ren (Mukai Osamu) from university. She relied solely on him and clung to him because he was the first to accept her even though he went too far and gave her cruel commands. Kyoko kept her distance for a while. However, he continued contacting her. Her strong dependence on him is resurrected when they meet again at her company. The other man is Yoshizaki Kojiro (Kiritani Kenta), a manga editor. He does not hesitate to aim harsh words at everyone. But beneath this is a kind, sincere man. He is unable to thrust aside Kyoko who comes at him with outrageous speech and behaviour, and unintentionally ends up helping her. Kyoko wonders whether he will be able to change her and is strongly drawn to him. And yet she cannot resist Hoshina’s “clutches”.
Ooooh this one has the potential to be Real Trash, it reminds me too much of the usual Kdramas. I'm putting this here for the eye-candy tbh.
synopsys from: jdramaswordpress
Anyway, these are the titles I'm most interested in.
99.9 ~ Keiji Senmon Bengoshi Season 2
Trailer
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Sundays, 14 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Uda Manabu (Borderline, Tokyo Airport, Lucky Seven)
Cast: Matsumoto Jun, Kagawa Teruyuki, Kimura Fumino, Aoki Munetaka, Katagiri Jin, Magy, Babazono Azusa, Baba Toru, Emi Kurara, Ikeda Takafumi, Kishii Yukino, Watanabe Makiko, Fujimoto Takahiro, Shuto Yasuyuki, Okuda Eiji, Shofukutei Tsurube, Kishibe Ittoku
Synopsis: The conviction rate for criminal cases in Japan is 99.9%. Miyama Hiroto (Matsumoto Jun) is a young, unconventional lawyer at Madarame Law Firm. He fixates on the remaining 0.1% and pursues the truth until he is satisfied. His buddy is Sada Atsuhiro (Kagawa Teruyuki), an ace in civil cases. The two of them clash with each other as they expose the hidden truth in the cases which they undertake. Ozaki Maiko (Kimura Fumino) stepped down as a judge as a result of some incident and has distanced herself from the legal field. One day, she accompanies a good friend to the law firm and has a differing opinion to Miyama. Sada who knows about Maiko’s outstanding background, recruits her. Despite Maiko’s initial reluctance and clashes with Miyama, she eventually decides to come back to the legal circle as a lawyer and joins the firm.
We have been blessed by a second season, and at first I was worried Sada wasn't going to be in it, but look at him. I've missed him and Lawyer Blueberry (I'm probably going to miss Eikura Nana's character, I hope this new lady is as good as her).
Can't. Wait.
Todome no Kisu
Trailer
Date: From 10.30 p.m., Sundays, 7 January 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Izumi Yoshihiro (Aogeba Toutoshi, Death Note, Gokuaku Ganbo)
Cast: Yamazaki Kento, Kadowaki Mugi, Suda Masaki, Arata Mackenyu, Araki Yuko, Sano Hayato, Miyazawa Hio, Hotta Akane, Karata Erika, Yamamoto Ai, Shison Jun, Mitsuishi Ken, Okunuki Kaoru, Okada Yoshinori, Yuge Tomohisa, Yamada Meikyo, Takahashi Hitomi, Koichi Mantaro, Yamada Meikyo
Synopsis: Handsome Dojima Outaro (Yamazaki Kento) is the no. 1 host of the host club Narcissus and a scum with a distorted perspective on love although he looks like a kind gentleman. He does not love anyone as a result of an incident 12 years ago, and is an aloof person who only cares about social climbing. He targets Namiki Mikoto (Araki Yuko), the daughter of a hotelier (Yamada Meikyo) whose assets are said to be worth 10 billion yen. But one day, he meets a “mysterious lady” (Kadowaki Mugi) and dies from her kiss. However, the next moment, he regains consciousness only to discover that he has been sent back seven days in time. This death and time travel repeats itself several times because of her and he gets stuck in a “death loop”...
This could easliy be trash, but I like Yamazaki Kento, so...
Unnatural (2018)
Trailer
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Fridays, 12 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriter: Nogi Akiko (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu, Juhan Shuttai!, Soratobu Kouhoushitsu)
Cast: Ishihara Satomi, Iura Arata, Kubota Masataka, Ichikawa Mikako, Ikeda Tetsuhiro, Ryusei Ryo, Ogasawara Kai, Iio Kazuki, Matsushige Yutaka, Yakushimaru Hiroko
Synopsis: Misumi Mikoto (Ishihara Satomi) is only one out of approximately 170 registered forensic pathologists in Japan. She has 1,500 autopsies under her belt and trained as an associate professor at medical school. Mikoto arrived at the newly established Unnatural Death Investigation (UDI) Lab four months ago. People who died of unnatural causes are constantly brought to the UDI which has assembled specialists in determining such causes of death. The team members are fellow forensic pathologist Nakado Kei (Iura Arata), records officer Kube Rokuro (Kubota Matsutaka), lab technician Shoji Yuko (Ichikawa Mikako) and director Kamikura Yasuo (Matsushige Yutaka).
From the plot, it seems nothing special BUT! Nogi Akiko is That scriptwriter who can create a beautiful jewel from boring stuff (a drama about Air Self Defence Forces seems rather boring, especially because it's about the "office work", doesn't it? But Soratobu Kouhoushitsu is actually one of the best things EVER. Anyway), so I believe that this one could be good too.
Repeat ~ Unmei o Kaeru Juukagetsu
Date: From 11.59 p.m., Thursdays, 11 January 2018
Station: NTV
Scriptwriter: Izumisawa Yoko (IQ246, Omukae desu, Lunch no Akko-chan)
Cast: Kanjiya Shihori, Hongo Kanata, Gori, Shimazaki Haruka, Shimizu Kei, Fukuda Tenkyu, Ino Hiroki, Matsuda Satoshi, Tezuka Satomi, Adachi Yumi (guest star), Rokkaku Seiji
Synopsis: Shinozaki Ayumi (Kanjiya Shihori) receives a strange call telling her that an earthquake will occur one hour from now. She hangs up the phone thinking it was just a prank call. But one hour later, she feels herself sway a little. When she turns on the television, she realises that what the caller said about the time and the epicentre was on the mark. After that, she receives another phone call from the same caller who identifies himself as Kazama (Rokkaku Seiji). He says that he knows what will happen in the future because he went back to a certain spot from the future and made a fresh start in life. Calling this time travel “Repeat”, he invites Ayumi to be his guest. Besides Ayumi, Mori Keisuke (Hongo Kanata) and Tendo Taro (Gori) are among the eight people who have been invited by Kazama to participate in “Repeat”. These eight people who are making a repeat as a result of past regrets, are hit with a series of unanticipated events.
It seems cool tbh, I hope it's not too weird/"scary"/disturbing. For some reason it makes me think of Gantz, but I'm aware it has nothing to do with it.
Kuragehime
Date: From 9.00 p.m., Mondays, 15 January 2018
Station: Fuji TV
Scriptwriter: Tokunaga Yuichi (Bokutachi ga Yarimashita, Kirawareru Yuuki, Tantei no Tantei)
Cast: Yoshine Kyoko, Seto Koji, Kudo Asuka, Kinami Haruka, Matsui Rena, Uchida Rio, Toyama Eriko, Kaname Jun, Yasui Junpei, Kitaoji Kinya
Synopsis: 20-year-old Kurashita Tsukimi (Yoshine Kyoko) became entranced by jellyfishes at an aquarium that her late mother brought her to during her childhood. She comes to Tokyo from Kagoshima with dreams of becoming an illustrator. However, she avoids contact with the outside world together with a group of female geeks (Kinami Haruka, Matsui Rena, Uchida Rio, Toyama Eriko) who call themselves the Ama-zu. The Ama-zu only immerse in their own world. They regard fashionable people as natural enemies and say they do not need men in their lives. Tsukimi is enjoying life when a pair of siblings show up in front of her. Koibuchi Kuranosuke (Seto Koji), the older brother, is a cross-dressing male who appears to be a very beautiful woman but actually is a handsome playboy. Shu (Kudo Asuka), the younger brother, is the secretary to their father Keiichiro (Kitaoji Kinya) who is an influential Diet lawmaker, and has not had any experience with females. Tsukimi becomes aware of romance with the two of them and a love triangle develops.
I believe this is a famous manga/anime, it seems ok, I hope it's fun and a nice romance.
Ashita no Kimi ga Motto Suki
Trailer
Date: From 11.05 p.m., Saturdays, 20 January 2018
Station: TV Asahi
Scriptwriter: Izawa Man (Dousoukai, Hyouten)
Cast: Ichihara Hayato, Ito Ayumi, Shirasu Jun, Morikawa Aoi, Shida Mirai, Mita Yoshiko, Yanagiba Toshiro, Watanabe Dai
Synopsis: Matsuo Ryo (Ichihara Hayato) is a landscape garden designer who quite openly says that females are trouble and is cool to romance. Satokawa Akane (Ito Ayumi) is a secretary who keeps having relationships with useless men and is at the point of giving up on love. Shirosaki Haruhi (Shirasu Jun) is a new employee at Akane’s company who has another side in complete contrast to his friendly character. Tanno Kaoru (Morikawa Aoi) works at a factory in the day and a girls bar at night while troubled by her sexual identity. These four do not have it easy in love. Furthermore, Akane’s younger sister Kuroda Azusa (Shida Mirai) who stole her boyfriend Kuroda Tomohiro (Watanabe Dai) and went on to marry him, gets involved in their romances.
I'm going to put this here because I'm curious and I want to watch some good romance, but I'm not 100% sure. Also, I like Ichihara Hayato, but I've come to realize that for me he'll always be the kid from Rookies who said "Koshien" in a funny way (I miss that drama). So it's strange for me seeing him in other roles, even if he's good. Furthermore, I don't really like the rest of the cast. We'll see.
Kimi ga Kokoro ni Sumitsuita
Trailer
Date: From 10.00 p.m., Tuesdays, 16 January 2018
Station: TBS
Scriptwriters: Yoshizawa Tomoko (Anata no Koto was Sorehodo, Damena Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai, Dr DMAT), Tokuo Koji (Aino Kekkon Soudanjo, Thrill Series, Konkatsu Deka)
Cast: Yoshioka Riho, Kiritani Kenta, Ishibashi Anna, Muro Tsuyoshi, Suzuki Sarina, Seto Asaka, Mukai Osamu
Synopsis: Ogawa Kyoko (Yoshioka Riho) works for the materials division of a lingerie maker. She is nicknamed Kyodoko because of her timidly suspicious behaviour in front of other people due to her extremely low self-esteem. Kyoko wavers between two charming men who have contrasting personalities. One of them is her handsome senior Hoshina Ren (Mukai Osamu) from university. She relied solely on him and clung to him because he was the first to accept her even though he went too far and gave her cruel commands. Kyoko kept her distance for a while. However, he continued contacting her. Her strong dependence on him is resurrected when they meet again at her company. The other man is Yoshizaki Kojiro (Kiritani Kenta), a manga editor. He does not hesitate to aim harsh words at everyone. But beneath this is a kind, sincere man. He is unable to thrust aside Kyoko who comes at him with outrageous speech and behaviour, and unintentionally ends up helping her. Kyoko wonders whether he will be able to change her and is strongly drawn to him. And yet she cannot resist Hoshina’s “clutches”.
Ooooh this one has the potential to be Real Trash, it reminds me too much of the usual Kdramas. I'm putting this here for the eye-candy tbh.
synopsys from: jdramaswordpress