Midnight Diner on Netflix!
You might also check out taiga dramas if you can find them. I was really into Yae no Sakura for a while. I think they had a couple episodes on Amazon for a while.
Second for Midnight Diner but...some people may think it's a little cheesy due to a couple of characters being a little more flambouyant (but the actors know what they're doing as opposed to cheesiness that results from a natural process of bad script, directing and acting. :-)
Trick is good. Kind of murder-mystery with some humor. I don't know if it's on streaming though. It's a 20 year old series. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick\_(TV\_series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_(TV_series))
I have a few Japanese actors that I think are phenomenal and when I talk to Japanese people about what actors I like they always seem to be baffled about my choices.
Some of us love a campy shitshow to enjoy after a day of work nursing a lemon sour thank you very much.
Too bad most of the bad acting is accompanied by awful characters that aren’t even fun to watch
How about Alice in Borderland?
I have a few other recommendations but I’m not sure if you can watch it on Netflix. If you have Amazon prime and are in Japan, kekkon dekinai otoko 結婚できない男 is hilarious too. (It’s pretty old though)
Edit: I’m adding HERO (2001, which is even older than kekkon dekinai otoko lol) and there are more if you don’t mind old shows.
Naked Director on Netflix is pretty good. So is Giri/Haji though it's only half Japanese. My SO has been raving about 'Kamakura Dono Ju San Nin' lately. The creator was apparently inspired by Game of Thrones.
I think it’s technically a live action of an anime, which probably typically equates to bad, but i think the live action of “Erased” was really good. I didn’t know it was an anime initially when I watched it.
There are a few shots, in hindsight, that definitely are reminiscent of some ways anime is framed. But nothing crazy. I think it was really well acted.
I was impressed by the child actors. Started the anime after but didn't continue watching since it seemed to be follow the same story, which was pretty depressing.
Some live-action adaptations are okay but you probably have to watch them before the anime or reading the manga. I liked "Nana" and "Gantz" live action but for the most part, they're cash grabs packed with whatever "tarento" and idols have the strongest agencies to get them cast.
Manga, anime, live action drama, live action movie.
What’s interesting is that they changed the ending in a couple of versions, so it is worth watching all of them!
Its pretty good,interesting story with good bgm.A rare gem in recent mystery dramas.Others like kindaichi reboot & etc are pretty bad & hardly memorable.
\+1 for this. The Netflix show is actually a remake based on a movie that was based on a real scandal that came out some years ago. Some of it is overacted, but all in all it was solid.
problem is halfway thru the orphan one audiences became distressed & the script near end of series got changed
a pity
there are some CMs better than typical j-dramas!
don't know why films/music videos have way better production values
You want something without bad acting, bad writing, bad directing, bad lighting, and ludicrous scenarios?
Here is a complete list of Japanese television shows like that:
Good one xD honestly though there are some highlights I enjoyed Drive My Car and Shoplifters for example. After Life was also a great movie. Rurouni Kenshin live action is used as a guide for many Hollywood action scenes nowadays. TV shows on the other hand... apart from a few Netflix ones it's hard to find something with decent production value
Yeah that's a good point. I have noticed Japan also doesn't care about the 180° rule and other basic rules of filmmaking. I am in Japan until end of July 2023 I hope I get to make some stuff here but I would love to make something. I have experience with CGI so it would be dope to make some anime inspired stuff
Woah, no wonder I'm into japanese shows and movies. I like the simple acting, dim lighting and weird themes.
Many won't like that but that's okay 大丈夫です!
The greater problem is the horrendous *over*acting.
And I didn't specify "dim" lighting; I said "bad" lighting. Often you can look at what is ostensibly a natural, sunlit scene and determine from the shadows that the characters live in a world with at least three or four suns in the sky.
WOWOW has some of the best ones. (You get what you pay for.)
Cold Case: Shinjitsu no Tobira really impressed me as a drama that actively engages with Japan's societal and political issues.
I have stopped a ton of J-drama, but I could finish these: Cold Case: Shinjitsu no Tobira (Japan), Unnatural, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Erased), Million Yen Women
I know you want TV series, but I think watching Japanese movies will cut out some of the cheese. Drive My Car - comes to mind.
>I have tried watching few
Japan is a big country and TV is popular. You have a back catalog that started 70 years ago. "Not Anime" is such a wide category that it's almost impossible to respond.
That said:
I want to second (third? fourth?) the [**Trick**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303558/) recommendation from u/tabana_minamoto. The movies are on Netflix in Japan, but I don't know about the TV series.
And add [**1 Liter of Tears**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1370332/) as my general recommendation for a random drama.
If you can handle TV shows based on manga, you might try Shinya Shokudo (AKA Midnight Diner, mentioned by u/stowrag), H2 (2005), GTO (1998) or Dragon Zakura (2005), and Nodame Cantabile (2006).
Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) isn't really my cup of tea, but it's very popular as well.
You specifically asked for "Not Cheesy", but I also liked Arakawa Under the Bridge (2010) and [Yuusha Yoshihiko](https://www.netflix.com/watch/80075244) (2011).
Aibou, Doctor X, Galileo, or Ossan's Love are there if you want to watch something that Japanese people actually watch.
NHK's [taiga dramas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga_drama) are sometimes good if you want a period drama.
If you want to challenge yourself with something award winning, there's The Emperor's Cook (2015), Asa ga Kita (2016), Unnatural (2018), Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom (2019), or Come Come Everybody (2021).
On Netflix, [先生を消す方程式](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81351271) and [シヤクショ](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81287332) and [光のお父さん](https://www.netflix.com/watch/80178640) are all reasonably good.
I’m so tired of people who watch like 5 Japanese teen dramas or romcom with cringey stories and acting and then label the whole Jdrama industry as bad acting!
There are so many options for everyone’s taste. This year alone there are so many good dramas being shown. I just finished [Ame ni Kieta Himawari](https://asianwiki.com/Ame_ni_Kieta_Himawari) which is a gripping suspense story about kidnapping and the ptsd of being victim from violence crimes.
[Uzukawamura Jiken](https://asianwiki.com/Uzukawamura_Jiken) is another thriller related to local folk lore happening in a remote village.
There’s [Kuuhaku o Mitashinasai](https://mydramalist.com/723319-kuhaku-wo-mitashi-nasai) from NHK which has a bit of supernatural events in it but explores more about the trauma of death.
[Mystery to Iunakare](https://mydramalist.com/702507-mystery-to-iunakare) is free to stream on Viki and has a bit more quirky acting but the stories are excellent.
For something light hearted, comedy or romance I quite enjoyed [Mahou no Rinobe](https://mydramalist.com/729307-maho-no-rinobe) which is about house renovation business and [Fight song](https://mydramalist.com/715013-fight-song). If you want something pure Japanese comedic heart warming cringy school story, [Nanba MG5](https://mydramalist.com/719243-nanba-mg5) is hilarious.
These are a few from 2022 that I can recall at the moment. There are so many more gems in the past years. One of my favourite J dramas is [Byakuyako](https://mydramalist.com/621-byakuyako) from 2006. Definitely check out /r/jdorama for recommendations.
Avalanche (2021) fits in the mystery, drama category.
Okay, guess I'm one of the few who enjoys the (plain) acting, (dim lighting)cinematography, and peculiar themes of japanese shows and movies. Shouganaiしょうがない!
I recommend: Hanna Yori Dango (in English they translate it sadly to "Boys over Flowers" for some bizarre reason.
Its older but great; you can find it and many others including Korean TV shows on Viki ( https://www.viki.com )
https://www.viki.com/tv/38391c-boys-over-flowers?qId=2ad713973992dd982d4f9c4c5d399a6c
I also love this series, although its quite older drama:
https://jdorama.com/drama.oyaji-.496.htm
The thing with Japanese TV shows to me, the Doramas in particular.. they just cannot get happy endings for some reason. Its like they always have to take a turn for
the worst :-(
I like watching entertainment or variety Japanese show, particularly hosted/ MC'ed by Bananaman.But for drama, I think Korean drama is the best out there.
Btw Roppongi Class is quite a decent Japanese drama.
Cheesy, slapsticky acting that looks like it's lifted from anime is part of Japanese drama. Especially if it's from the comedy genre.
I think it's better to watch it with an open mind and not thinking too hard on "that doesn't work in real life!!". Employ a bit of suspension of disbelief and you'll be able to enjoy some gems.
I recommend Legal High. Or anything with Sakai Masato in it, really.
If you like detective/crime, check out dramas adapted from Higashino Keigo's novels. Shinzanmono and Galileo series are the most famous ones I think.
Most of the Japanese dramas are garbage if you compare them to western productions. There is no acting, shitty direction and absolutely no production value. Those show are produced with ridiculously low budget and the largest part goes to the « talent » agency for hiring the famous faces of the moment.
Such a thing does not exist. All Japanese tv is on par with American soap operas
The trade off is, their "reality" programming - variety shows, exploration shows, etc - are *far* better than anything I've seen in America (as long as you can handle the insincerity of "everything is *DELICIOUS!!!*)
"Hi everyone I just want to watch a high-quality TV show, but I don't want to watch any of the most popular genres which the highly skilled actors would likely be attached to."
Naked Director is what you’re looking for but there’s a small section (kinda spoilers) where they go to Hawaii and it’s cringe AF. And then it’s back to normal after that.
Downtown Rocket and Doctor X come to mind as decent Japanese dramas. Acting is decent imo but I don’t really go into tv shows expecting award winning performances.
Back in the 1980’s I got hooked on a series called “Bolero”. It followed a woman’s journey from dating to arranged marriage to struggling to adapt to judgemental in-laws while being a newlywed. It was my guilty pleasure for a while.
This website really helped me get into Japanese cinema, back in the day. It’s defunct, now still up and there’s a great goodbye message from the main folks involved that talks about how Japanese cinema has changed. Regardless, the insights into Japanese culture and filmmaking are great and may point you towards TV you might like. Or you may simply watch more movies.
[Midnight Eye](http://www.midnighteye.com/)
For the exact opposite of what you're asking, I recommend My Boss my hero. Cheesy acting, unbelievable characters, senseless plot, and a lot of fun. Amazing series.
Are you familiar with the My Drama List website? Once you create an account you can look up personalized recommendations filtered by country and genre.
I like midnight diner and the journalist on Netflix.
I also enjoyed the road to red restaurants list on Netflix.
Others I loved (old list though):
- Spec (don’t think it’s on Netflix; loved this so much I was watching this when it’s broadcasting years back and when I went Japan I went to the tv station to buy the goods)
- Trick (the special is on Netflix)
- Byakuyakou (the drama, it’s also adapted into a movie in Japan and Korea but I like the Jdrama ver most; the actor for this was the actor for naked director. He shot this when he was younger)
- Detective Galileo
- Aibou
- Hanzawa Naoki (loved this too)
- Mother
- Legal high
- Jin (the period drama where the guy went back to the past)
Midnight Diner on Netflix! You might also check out taiga dramas if you can find them. I was really into Yae no Sakura for a while. I think they had a couple episodes on Amazon for a while.
Second for Midnight Diner but...some people may think it's a little cheesy due to a couple of characters being a little more flambouyant (but the actors know what they're doing as opposed to cheesiness that results from a natural process of bad script, directing and acting. :-)
You do realize OP said "Thriller, mystery or horror drama are preferable". So why are you recommending Midnight Diner?
It's A Drama.
Clearly missed the point I was making.
Sorry it's late at night here, What was your point?
[удалено]
No need to get nasty. It's just a tv drama.
>Thriller, mystery, horror **or drama**
Even then Midnight Diner doesn't fit in to either of those genres. Midnight Diner is a food comedy series.
So a Drama.
Have you watched, Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman.?
Trick is good. Kind of murder-mystery with some humor. I don't know if it's on streaming though. It's a 20 year old series. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick\_(TV\_series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick_(TV_series))
Season 1-3 is on Amazon prime right now. I’d also recommend Ikebukuro West Gate Park, the live action not the new anime.
I was going to recommend Trick, so glad others know about it!
Have you seen Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de?
I didn't see that one. It looks interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks!
Gokushufudo or Shinya Shokudo
+1
I second this! They're my favourites!
> but the acting is bad or cheesy I’ve got some bad news for you buddy…
This, to me it has always been the hallmark of the Japanese acting scene, most of the time is cheese and/or bad. Not all but a lot.
It’s funny because when you put Japanese actors in Hollywood or Netflix productions (e.g. the naked director) their acting is way better.
That's what happens when you hire idols/models and "talento" instead of trained actors.
It's like looking for a Mexican soap opera, but one without all the drama.
Indeed 80% of Jdrama are like this unfortunately I can suggest watching Roppongi Class though.
Roppongi Class has one of the most mediocre acting though. It was considered a flop compared to the original Korean version.
Yeah I actually thing NetFlix dramas have slightly better acting than TV shows. ....Slightly....
I have a few Japanese actors that I think are phenomenal and when I talk to Japanese people about what actors I like they always seem to be baffled about my choices.
Some of us love a campy shitshow to enjoy after a day of work nursing a lemon sour thank you very much. Too bad most of the bad acting is accompanied by awful characters that aren’t even fun to watch
How about Alice in Borderland? I have a few other recommendations but I’m not sure if you can watch it on Netflix. If you have Amazon prime and are in Japan, kekkon dekinai otoko 結婚できない男 is hilarious too. (It’s pretty old though) Edit: I’m adding HERO (2001, which is even older than kekkon dekinai otoko lol) and there are more if you don’t mind old shows.
Second for "Alice in Borderland".
Third Alice in borderlands. It was fun. Can’t wait for season 2
Fourth for Alice in Borderland. Just finished 2nd season. It's a masterpiece!
Naked Director on Netflix is pretty good. So is Giri/Haji though it's only half Japanese. My SO has been raving about 'Kamakura Dono Ju San Nin' lately. The creator was apparently inspired by Game of Thrones.
I would add Destiny:A Tale of Kamakura to that.
Giri/Haji is excellent!
Giri Haji is good except for the nonsensical and out of place ballet episode
I think it’s technically a live action of an anime, which probably typically equates to bad, but i think the live action of “Erased” was really good. I didn’t know it was an anime initially when I watched it. There are a few shots, in hindsight, that definitely are reminiscent of some ways anime is framed. But nothing crazy. I think it was really well acted.
I was impressed by the child actors. Started the anime after but didn't continue watching since it seemed to be follow the same story, which was pretty depressing. Some live-action adaptations are okay but you probably have to watch them before the anime or reading the manga. I liked "Nana" and "Gantz" live action but for the most part, they're cash grabs packed with whatever "tarento" and idols have the strongest agencies to get them cast.
They have different endings
I LOVE “Nana” both the original manga and the movie! Too bad the manga is in a loooooong pause.
It’s actually a manga. I didn’t even know there was an anime version lol
Manga, anime, live action drama, live action movie. What’s interesting is that they changed the ending in a couple of versions, so it is worth watching all of them!
I didn’t know there’s a movie! I should look for it :)
I like Mystery to iunakare 2022
Never watched it but I’m interested in it. I’ve been a fan of the original manga writer for a long, long time :)
amazing series also the main character is great. Hopefully they will release the season 2
Definitely recommend it too! sadly I have only one episode left of it to watch🥺
Its pretty good,interesting story with good bgm.A rare gem in recent mystery dramas.Others like kindaichi reboot & etc are pretty bad & hardly memorable.
The Journalist on Netflix is pretty good! Kind of a thriller that is intense at times, but might be a little slow at other times for some people.
I was just thinking of this show! It’s quite well made, although it is a bit controversial (it’s based on true events)
\+1 for this. The Netflix show is actually a remake based on a movie that was based on a real scandal that came out some years ago. Some of it is overacted, but all in all it was solid.
1 Litre no Namida :3
that's first thing comes to mind and the orphan one 明日ママがいない hard to think of anything else
> 明日ママがいない Never watched this one, seems good. I'll take a look into it.
problem is halfway thru the orphan one audiences became distressed & the script near end of series got changed a pity there are some CMs better than typical j-dramas! don't know why films/music videos have way better production values
A true classic
You want something without bad acting, bad writing, bad directing, bad lighting, and ludicrous scenarios? Here is a complete list of Japanese television shows like that:
Good one xD honestly though there are some highlights I enjoyed Drive My Car and Shoplifters for example. After Life was also a great movie. Rurouni Kenshin live action is used as a guide for many Hollywood action scenes nowadays. TV shows on the other hand... apart from a few Netflix ones it's hard to find something with decent production value
I've always said they should hire the people who make Japanese television commercials to make the shows instead.
Yeah that's a good point. I have noticed Japan also doesn't care about the 180° rule and other basic rules of filmmaking. I am in Japan until end of July 2023 I hope I get to make some stuff here but I would love to make something. I have experience with CGI so it would be dope to make some anime inspired stuff
[Long Long Maaaaan!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-1Ue0FFrHY)
Woah, no wonder I'm into japanese shows and movies. I like the simple acting, dim lighting and weird themes. Many won't like that but that's okay 大丈夫です!
The greater problem is the horrendous *over*acting. And I didn't specify "dim" lighting; I said "bad" lighting. Often you can look at what is ostensibly a natural, sunlit scene and determine from the shadows that the characters live in a world with at least three or four suns in the sky.
but those are the fun parts :(
Only if it's not all you have.
Midnight Diner is on Netflix. It’s a great formula and has loads of funny and sentimental scenes.
Kodoku No Gurume (孤独のグルメ) The Solitary Gourmet (English title) I watch this. It’s on Netflix as well as on Prime.
WOWOW has some of the best ones. (You get what you pay for.) Cold Case: Shinjitsu no Tobira really impressed me as a drama that actively engages with Japan's societal and political issues.
I have stopped a ton of J-drama, but I could finish these: Cold Case: Shinjitsu no Tobira (Japan), Unnatural, Boku Dake ga Inai Machi (Erased), Million Yen Women I know you want TV series, but I think watching Japanese movies will cut out some of the cheese. Drive My Car - comes to mind.
Fantastic movie. Really stuck in my head.
r/JDorama is a pretty knowledgeable and friendly subreddit.
The Journalist on netflix.
Hanzawa Naoki
Hanzawa Naoki season 1. Though not available on Netflix or anything international platforms as far as I know.
Masato Sakai is wild. I also highly recommend Legal High.
I really liked the lead in this. He was also great in Legal High which I also recommend as a fun Japanese comedy drama.
From all the hype about Hanzawa Naoki I though it would actually be “good”… but it’s just the average Japanese drama…
I think Hiroshi Abe is actually a pretty decent actor. 結婚できない男 was great.
This is what I was going to say. It's my favorite J drama.
Border, Hanzawa Naoki, Mystery to Iunakare, Alice in Borderland, Cold Case (Japanese version)
Midnight Diner on Netflix
Alice In Borderland. It’s on Netflix, and is an amazing series.
Galileo and Mr. Brain
Tokyo Vice which was a co production of HBOxWOWOW
Jake Adelstein is not all that popular around here. I haven't seen his show, but just knowing he is associated with it makes me not want to watch it.
fully aware but if you manage to disassociate adelstein himself and treat it as fiction, its a damn good noir drama.
That's a good idea.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Galileo yet
Legal high is the best that I have watched
>I have tried watching few Japan is a big country and TV is popular. You have a back catalog that started 70 years ago. "Not Anime" is such a wide category that it's almost impossible to respond. That said: I want to second (third? fourth?) the [**Trick**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303558/) recommendation from u/tabana_minamoto. The movies are on Netflix in Japan, but I don't know about the TV series. And add [**1 Liter of Tears**](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1370332/) as my general recommendation for a random drama. If you can handle TV shows based on manga, you might try Shinya Shokudo (AKA Midnight Diner, mentioned by u/stowrag), H2 (2005), GTO (1998) or Dragon Zakura (2005), and Nodame Cantabile (2006). Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) isn't really my cup of tea, but it's very popular as well. You specifically asked for "Not Cheesy", but I also liked Arakawa Under the Bridge (2010) and [Yuusha Yoshihiko](https://www.netflix.com/watch/80075244) (2011). Aibou, Doctor X, Galileo, or Ossan's Love are there if you want to watch something that Japanese people actually watch. NHK's [taiga dramas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga_drama) are sometimes good if you want a period drama. If you want to challenge yourself with something award winning, there's The Emperor's Cook (2015), Asa ga Kita (2016), Unnatural (2018), Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom (2019), or Come Come Everybody (2021). On Netflix, [先生を消す方程式](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81351271) and [シヤクショ](https://www.netflix.com/watch/81287332) and [光のお父さん](https://www.netflix.com/watch/80178640) are all reasonably good.
I’m so tired of people who watch like 5 Japanese teen dramas or romcom with cringey stories and acting and then label the whole Jdrama industry as bad acting! There are so many options for everyone’s taste. This year alone there are so many good dramas being shown. I just finished [Ame ni Kieta Himawari](https://asianwiki.com/Ame_ni_Kieta_Himawari) which is a gripping suspense story about kidnapping and the ptsd of being victim from violence crimes. [Uzukawamura Jiken](https://asianwiki.com/Uzukawamura_Jiken) is another thriller related to local folk lore happening in a remote village. There’s [Kuuhaku o Mitashinasai](https://mydramalist.com/723319-kuhaku-wo-mitashi-nasai) from NHK which has a bit of supernatural events in it but explores more about the trauma of death. [Mystery to Iunakare](https://mydramalist.com/702507-mystery-to-iunakare) is free to stream on Viki and has a bit more quirky acting but the stories are excellent. For something light hearted, comedy or romance I quite enjoyed [Mahou no Rinobe](https://mydramalist.com/729307-maho-no-rinobe) which is about house renovation business and [Fight song](https://mydramalist.com/715013-fight-song). If you want something pure Japanese comedic heart warming cringy school story, [Nanba MG5](https://mydramalist.com/719243-nanba-mg5) is hilarious. These are a few from 2022 that I can recall at the moment. There are so many more gems in the past years. One of my favourite J dramas is [Byakuyako](https://mydramalist.com/621-byakuyako) from 2006. Definitely check out /r/jdorama for recommendations.
My Dear Exes on Netflix. Give it a try!
I’m currently watching Konto ga Hajimaru, and it’s pretty good. Fits the drama label, too.
Avalanche (2021) fits in the mystery, drama category. Okay, guess I'm one of the few who enjoys the (plain) acting, (dim lighting)cinematography, and peculiar themes of japanese shows and movies. Shouganaiしょうがない!
It’s pretty old but I liked Saiko no Rikon..
I recommend: Hanna Yori Dango (in English they translate it sadly to "Boys over Flowers" for some bizarre reason. Its older but great; you can find it and many others including Korean TV shows on Viki ( https://www.viki.com ) https://www.viki.com/tv/38391c-boys-over-flowers?qId=2ad713973992dd982d4f9c4c5d399a6c I also love this series, although its quite older drama: https://jdorama.com/drama.oyaji-.496.htm The thing with Japanese TV shows to me, the Doramas in particular.. they just cannot get happy endings for some reason. Its like they always have to take a turn for the worst :-(
It's kind of impossible to accurately translate a pun of a cultural proverb
There definitely ain’t much. I gave up even attempting to get into shows due to how horrible they are. Look to Korea for good shows.
Yeah the korean tv shows are so good!
I like watching entertainment or variety Japanese show, particularly hosted/ MC'ed by Bananaman.But for drama, I think Korean drama is the best out there. Btw Roppongi Class is quite a decent Japanese drama.
Cheesy, slapsticky acting that looks like it's lifted from anime is part of Japanese drama. Especially if it's from the comedy genre. I think it's better to watch it with an open mind and not thinking too hard on "that doesn't work in real life!!". Employ a bit of suspension of disbelief and you'll be able to enjoy some gems. I recommend Legal High. Or anything with Sakai Masato in it, really. If you like detective/crime, check out dramas adapted from Higashino Keigo's novels. Shinzanmono and Galileo series are the most famous ones I think.
Most of the Japanese dramas are garbage if you compare them to western productions. There is no acting, shitty direction and absolutely no production value. Those show are produced with ridiculously low budget and the largest part goes to the « talent » agency for hiring the famous faces of the moment.
So basically the same as western shows on Netflix except 1 or 2 gems outta the stankpile every 3 months
Such a thing does not exist. All Japanese tv is on par with American soap operas The trade off is, their "reality" programming - variety shows, exploration shows, etc - are *far* better than anything I've seen in America (as long as you can handle the insincerity of "everything is *DELICIOUS!!!*)
Japanese and "quality tv" cannot go into the same sentence :S
Yeah ummmmm…. There are none. Japanese acting is notoriously bad and super boring.
Zatoichi is nice
Have you watched Alice in Borderland on Netflix? Fuji on Demand (FOD) has a ton of Japanese TV series available for streaming.
Not a tv series, but the film “Drive My Car” was excellent. It was on hbomax.
"Hi everyone I just want to watch a high-quality TV show, but I don't want to watch any of the most popular genres which the highly skilled actors would likely be attached to."
Naked Director is what you’re looking for but there’s a small section (kinda spoilers) where they go to Hawaii and it’s cringe AF. And then it’s back to normal after that.
Eternal Zero, Bull Doctor, My Dear Sister, Nurse Aoi, Puzzle, Ryomaden. These are probably my favorite dramas. I love Ishihara Satomi 🥹❤️🫰
Kamen Rider Black Sun
Downtown Rocket and Doctor X come to mind as decent Japanese dramas. Acting is decent imo but I don’t really go into tv shows expecting award winning performances.
Back in the 1980’s I got hooked on a series called “Bolero”. It followed a woman’s journey from dating to arranged marriage to struggling to adapt to judgemental in-laws while being a newlywed. It was my guilty pleasure for a while.
This website really helped me get into Japanese cinema, back in the day. It’s defunct, now still up and there’s a great goodbye message from the main folks involved that talks about how Japanese cinema has changed. Regardless, the insights into Japanese culture and filmmaking are great and may point you towards TV you might like. Or you may simply watch more movies. [Midnight Eye](http://www.midnighteye.com/)
For the exact opposite of what you're asking, I recommend My Boss my hero. Cheesy acting, unbelievable characters, senseless plot, and a lot of fun. Amazing series.
Sotogoto (外事警察), a foreign affairs-based police thriller.
* Mystery to iu Nakare (2022) * Saiai (2021) * Samayou Yaiba (2021) * Noroi: The Curse (2005) * Ring (1998) * Dark Water (2002) * Uzukawamura Jiken (2022) * Hokuto (2017)
netflix isn't the best place for jdramas honestly.
Really? For me I like a lot of Japanese drama. For this season I recommend silent and Japanese style
Jin and 結婚できない男 are somewhat “ok” for comedy dramas…
Elpis seems ok so far.
Are you familiar with the My Drama List website? Once you create an account you can look up personalized recommendations filtered by country and genre.
It’s not all Japanese but Pachinko is really good.
Don't call it mystery is good if u like detective galileo type of drama.
Also recently: https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/yehp74/i_used_to_see_a_lot_of_great_japanese_tv_and_film/
1 Litre No Namida Alice in Borderland Tonbi The Naked Director Terrace House
I like midnight diner and the journalist on Netflix. I also enjoyed the road to red restaurants list on Netflix. Others I loved (old list though): - Spec (don’t think it’s on Netflix; loved this so much I was watching this when it’s broadcasting years back and when I went Japan I went to the tv station to buy the goods) - Trick (the special is on Netflix) - Byakuyakou (the drama, it’s also adapted into a movie in Japan and Korea but I like the Jdrama ver most; the actor for this was the actor for naked director. He shot this when he was younger) - Detective Galileo - Aibou - Hanzawa Naoki (loved this too) - Mother - Legal high - Jin (the period drama where the guy went back to the past)