Asian Drama

Shunsuke works part-time at a cafe owned by his uncle Takehiko. One night, a woman, who is dressed like a traditional oiran (high ranking courtesan), appears in front of him. The woman's name is Senka. Apparently, she just travelled across time from the Edo period to the present day and she looks completely lost. Shunsuke takes her to his uncle's house where he also stays. Senka stays at Takehiko's house and also begins to work part-time at his cafe. Senka gets people's attention due to her appearance and behavior. Meanwhile, Shunsuke goes to the library to find information about Senka. He learns that Senka was a legendary oiran in the Edo period.

Ken is a player who dates a lot of women at the same time. He decides to trick Aim, an innocent girl, into falling in love with him after she tries to expose him. But his plan backfires and he eventually falls for her too.

"Steady as a mountain, attack like fire, still as a wood, swift as the wind". NHK Taiga Drama for 1988 is The life story of the famous warlord Takeda Shingen (1521-1573), aka "The Tiger of Kai". Based on the novel by Jirou Nitta starring Kiichi Nakai as Takeda Shingen. There was a very turbulent time in the warring period in the history, and Takeda Shingen is consider one of the great warlords among many other, Uesugi Kenshin and Oda Nobunaga were present. There were many wars fought back then for power and prestige. But ordinary people just wanted their crops planted and harvested to feed their families, but that got harder and harder as the healthy young men in the families were sent off to war and the fields went to ruin. Takeda Shingen fought for peace and to expand his home province but apparently he should have paid more attention to his household because his home life had no peace behind the smiles and greetings.

Natsuko lives her dream as a copy writer for an advertising company in Tokyo. But when she hits a slump in her career, she returns to her family's sake brewery in the countryside. There she discovers her older brother has been hunting down a phantom rice called tatsunishiki, believing it to be ideal for creating a new sake. He finds the rice seeds he needs to begin his new sake, but right after Natsuko returns to Tokyo with her spirits renewed, he passes away suddenly. Despite new success at her job, she decides to quit and return home to continue her brother's dream. What begins is a several years long journey, first to cultivate the notoriously difficult to grow tatsunishiki, and then to perfect the brewing process of her new sake.

Karnkaew, a girl studying in the province Bangkok. She can upgrade herself to a higher class when she gets an income as a courtesan. Her best friend is Chala, an unambitious girl who works as waitress to paid her credit fee. Karnkaew goes out with Gunchorn, a teacher who teaches at that school. Meanwhile she flirts with Arwut, her boss at the company, but she decides to break off with both of them, because she's wants to live a luxurious life and both Gunchorn and Arwut can't afford these things for her. So she needs to find new man who can give her a luxurious life.

Iwase Ken and Yoshida Rei have been friends since elementary school. Ken, is obstinate and unskilled in love, but he fell long ago for the lively and cheerful, Rei. But Rei is about to get married to another man. While Ken and other friends from high-school attend the wedding ceremony, a fairy appears and sends Ken back in time, giving him a second chance to win the girl he loves.

Sakurai plays the host of a live TV quiz program. On the show, contestants who achieve 7 correct answers win 10 million yen, and those who get 8 correct answers will have one of their wishes granted by the TV network. But while the questions start off innocently enough, as the game progresses, the questions gradually delve into the contestants' past crimes or indiscretions, presenting them with the dilemma of having to confess their guilt in order to win. Sakurai's character also has a mysterious past. Before becoming the show's host, an accident had left him in a vegetative state for six years, which also resulted in him losing most of his memories.

The story centers on an extended family and the dramas caused by love. Cousins Ki-woong and Suk-hyun seek the affections of Hae-in. Ki-woong is Hae-in's college senior and close friend. Suk-hyun and Hae-in have known each other since childhood. The love triangle and rivalry deepen. Ki-woong's parents keep a sound and happy household despite certain setbacks. Ki-woong is arrogant but a softy deep down. Ki-woongg's uncle is an idealist who still clings to the notion of romance. Ki-woong's shrewd aunt values money above all else. Their son Suk-hyun well educated and having lived abroad for most of his life has difficulty relating with his parents. He considers Hae-in and Jongnam in search of a bride. Hae-in and Suk-hyun's parents are close friends. Hae-in is a bright career woman and works for the same company as Suk-hyun. Everyone believes she is quite a catch but she is independent in search for love. The unfortunate Jong-nam lives with Ki-woong's paternal aunt. Jong-nam had been in love with her son until he died in a tragic accident which bonded the two women. Jong-nam and Suk-hyun bump into each other one day and find they are mysteriously drawn to each other.

The story opens during the last days of the second Shogun, who has two sons, Iemitsu and Tadanaga. Iemitsu is the elder son and is expected to become the next Shogun. However, the real lion's share of the power is held by the Shogun. The Emperor, who belongs to the Noble class must approve the selection of a new Shogun. This rules governing behaviour for the Nobles are distinctly different from the rules for the Samurai. The main goal of the Nobles is to restore the true governing power to Japan to the Emperor. To accomplish this goal, the Nobles feel the more chaos the better. The Yagyu Conspiracy retells the one of the most exciting and intriguing chapters found in Japanese history...

A Japanese take on Notting Hill (1999). Sosuke Nakata (Kusanagi Tsuyoshi), is just your everyday salaried worker. There is really nothing special that stands out about Nakata. He is a serious guy, whose life mostly consists of going back and forth to the office each day. Suddenly one day though, Nakata just happens to meet a certain woman by coincidence-top star, Hikaruko Kirishima (Fujiwara Norika). Just by talking to her, Nakata is left standing feeling like he has just seen a dream. Several days later, Kirishima calls an emergency press conference. And there she announces..."I am now dating a gentleman by the name of Sosuke Nakata, a salaried worker, whom I intend to marry." An announcement about their "relationship," out of the blue! More than that, this top star's boyfriend is just your typical salaried worker!! What does Kirishima have up her sleeve as she hides behind her intrepid smile?! Nakata obviously has no idea about what happened at the press conference. He also doesn't know what lies ahead for him at work, and about Hikaruko's true intentions. This story, a somewhat funny, but romantic love story, follows the footsteps of a man and woman from very different worlds, as they experience the painful and sometimes remarkable ups and downs of love. --- Fuji TV

Kang Pungho, a 28-year-old insect exterminator, though growing up in an orphanage without any family, has a natural born optimism. Abandoned by his first love Soi, he ends up as a single daddy with a seven-year-old son Kang San. Thanks to his bright temper, Pungho manages to make a living and grows his son just as any other well-off families do. Regarding his son as a happy gift from the heaven, Pungho would die for Kang San. Hari, the only daughter of well-known surgeon, lost her mother at the age of 6 but has grown up a bright girl, supported by deep paternal love. After his father remarried Soi, Pungho’s first love, she comes across Pungho, instantly falls in love with him.

The basis for the drama is the novel "Kashikogi" by author Cho Chang-in, which has sold 2 million copies in Korea since its publication in 2000. It has already been adapted as a television drama and a stage play in that country. On February 4, Shogakukan is publishing the book in Japan under the title "Good Life" Sorimachi plays the part of Daichi Sawamoto, a newspaper reporter who has always prioritized his work over his family. When his wife suddenly leaves him, he finally notices the love he has been receiving from his son. Just as he decides to answer back, it is discovered that his son has leukemia. Igawa plays Sawamoto's wife, Eikura plays a pediatrics specialist, and Ihara plays a doctor.