Asian Drama

N/A

Episodes: 10

Duration: 30 min.

Aired On: Friday

Kaseifu no Mitazono is back for a sixth season. Mr. Mitazono is a strong housekeeper who dresses as a woman and has exceptional housekeeping skills. Whenever he is sent to a client's house in order to carry out the work, he is able to pick out the deepest rooted secrets that exist among the family.

This time, he is joined by Yaguchi Miyu, a 20 year old newbie housekeeper.

(Source: DramaOtaku)

Episodes: 9

Gohara Aura, a scout for the Yokohama Bay Golds, is caustic and self righteous but generally regarded as a hotshot. He flies around the country in search of hidden talent to pick the Draft King – the no. 1 among the players chosen for this year’s draft. Kamiki Ryosuke, a former professional player who is now a rookie scout, and the members of the scout division led by the empathetic Shimobe Rikuo engage in a heated discussion with Gohara in their effort to strengthen the team. Gohara’s arch-enemy Busujima Ryuji, a veteran scout for the Osaka White Tigers who would do anything to accomplish his goals, is also fired up to secure talented players and makes a secret move. Can Gohara and his colleagues find a diamond in the rough and pick the Draft King?

Adapted from the manga series "Draft King" (ドラフトキング) by Kuromatsu Tetsuro (クロマツテツロウ).

This dark medical drama examines the meaning of human life, centring on a team of unidentified black-market doctors who undertake any kind of surgery with superhuman surgical skills and exorbitant medical expenses. Hazama Eisuke, also known as "Ace", is a genius surgeon who works as a patissier during the day. He has an operating room equipped with the latest equipment in the basement of his patisserie, where he performs surgeries on patients who have been abandoned by others. Shimoyamada Jo, also known as "Joker", is a brilliant international lawyer and a negotiator with patients.

The doctor Iwamori Akira’s wife Hitomi has gone missing. He visits her hometown of Uzukawa Village together with their daughter Aiko to search for her. While the two of them are staying there, heavy rain hits the surrounding region and the village is cut off. Before long, a young person is murdered. As distrust and disquiet start to hang over the village, the complication of a power struggle in a powerful family and the generational divide between angry young people and adults gradually reaches a head. The entire village inches towards a crisis. Will Iwamori be able to come to terms with his family and his own past?

Adapted from the novel "Uzukawamura Jiken" (鵜頭川村事件) by Kushiki Riu (櫛木理宇).

Wataguchi Jun is a young man living in a port town. He doesn't attend school and hangs around a group of thugs. His parents run a business to transport landfill by ship. Their business is not doing well. Wataguchi Jun doesn't have interest in his parents' business and he doesn't speak to his parents very much. One day, a person, who hangs out with Wataguchi Jun, gets attacked by someone. An unexpected person is accused as being the attacker.

Kaiji is about to ave his life changed. The thrill is beyond anything he, or most people, have experienced. The adventure is not without risk and danger however. He is given four games, which are challenges, and include life and death situations.

One day, a popular YouTuber called Taiga visits ex-prosecutor Iwai after being attacked on the subway station following a death threat. Iwai, who was asked to identify the person behind death threat, discovered that Taiga is the son of a politician who he had been previously investigated for corruption. Who is targeting Taiga? Is it true that once your information is posted online, you are branded with digital tattoo and you can never start over? Iwai, an analog person, wants to change that for his clients.

Himekawa Reiko became an assistant inspector with the Tenth Homicide Section at the young age of 27 even though she was not on the career track. As the only female section chief in the First Investigative Division, she leads Team Himekawa, armed with her intuition, dramatic ideas and energy, and has solved many challenging cases. Her older subordinate Kikuta Kazuo , a sergeant, is initially skeptical of her when he is transferred to the team. However, he gradually comes to realise her competence and charm, and special feelings begin to grow. Reiko’s nemesis is Katsumata Kensaku , an assistant inspector with the Fifth Homicide Section. Although he boasts an overwhelming lead in the number of arrests, his illegal investigation methods have also drawn suspicion.

Wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years despite his innocence, a man manages to eventually escape his demise and makes a thrilling return as a fresh new character—unbeknownst to everyone from his past, who believe he is dead. This is a drama about a man whose remaining passion is for vengeance against those who stripped away all the good things in his life for their own gain. Through elaborate maneuvers and clever entrapments, he sets into motion a unique revenge plot in which his enemies' inner demons and come to the surface to wreak havoc on their carefully cultivated success, all built upon their betrayals and past sins. As he seeks to force their ugly secrets into the the light, he seeks to reconcile his belief that justice is worth the destruction it can bring. Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo.

A story-a-week episodic medical mystery that treats the theme of reality changing when faced with imminent death. Mystery and exhilarating human drama unfold against the backdrop of the “unnatural death institute”, or “UDI”. For example, the body of a young man is brought into the UDI lab one day; his cause of death attributed to ischemic heart disease in which blood fails to be conveyed to the heart. But the victim’s parents are puzzled by the freak nature of their son’s death and turn to medical coroner Mikoto, to find out why. Together with her lab technician partner, Yuko Shoji, and rookie medical recorder, Rokuro, they examine the body for a possible drug poisoning and then learn that another female colleague of the deceased man has just died suddenly.

Saigo Takamori, the hero of the Meiji Restoration, was born to a poor, low-ranking samurai family in the Satsuma domain (present day Kagoshima Prefecture). His simple honesty caught the attention of its charismatic feudal lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira. Nariakira’s assertion that the love of people is what will enrich and strengthen the nation captivated Saigo who took on Nariakira’s secret mission and eventually became a key person for Satsuma. Not a portrait of him survives today and much of his life is a mystery. He is a man who was twice exiled and thrice married. He overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate with exceptional bravery and action. Although he accomplished the restoration, he lost his life in a fight with the new Meiji government.

Based on the novel "Sego Don" by Hayashi Mariko.

Four years after her journey with Chagum ended, Balsa has become an outlaw. Concealing herself in the kingdom of Rota to the west of the New Yogo Empire, she continues to be a bodyguard. One day, Balsa saves a young girl Asura who has the ability to summon Taru Hamaya, the god of devastation. Spies of the royal family are mobilised in an attempt to eliminate her. Meanwhile, in the New Yogo Empire, Chagum who is now the crown prince, has set out on a sea voyage. The Trush Empire to the south is trying to invade the north and wages war against the seafaring kingdom of Sangal as a beachhead. Chagum leads reinforcements, but this is the emperor’s ploy to expel the crown prince. Sangal falls into the hands of the Trush Empire and Chagum ends up becoming a captive.

Adapted from the novels by Uehashi Nahoko, Kami no Moribito and Sōro no Tabibito, the 5th and 6th books in her Moribito series.

A series of grotesque and brutal murders happens on rainy nights, all of them supposedly done by a man wearing a frog mask. Detective Hisashi Sawamura is the first to notice the connections and sets on a pursuit. Soon, he will come to a terrifying revelation that his own family might be the next target.

The 95th NHK Asadora is about Sumire, a girl born in the uptown of Kobe in the early Showa period. In the wake of wartime devastation, she works hard toward making children's clothes for a living, and later establishes a first-ever children's goods store in Japan. -- NHK

Pharmaceutical student, Keiko witnesses her boyfriend having an affair. Shocked and disappointed, she jumps on a train ("destination anywhere, east or west, she don't care") and ends up in a town named Masao in Tokyo's remote suburbs. There, she gets a part-time job at a newly opened drugstore. What do ya know.. The local shopping district's middle-aged men all fall for the young girl's charms, and they start practicing lacrosse once they have found out that that's her favourite sport.

Nishiuchi Mariya stars as a novice concierge in a luxury hotel who strives to see her customers smile. The heroine with never-give-up attitude who doesn't say "no" to customers tries her very best to solve problems with support from her seniors. The drama brings heart-warming one-off episodes every week to viewers.

Toko has finally got her dream job as concierge at "Hotel Vollmond". One day, fashion designer and customer, Sachi, requests Toko to change the flowers at her party venue, which Toko promises to do without due consideration. With the help of her senior, Honjo, she manages to keep her rash promise, but Honjo starts to question why on earth Washio chose Toko as concierge in the first place. Toko, then, gets enthusiastic about supporting a customer who plans to propose to his girlfriend.

Yureru (a.k.a Sway) tells story about 2 brothers facing each other in the court because of death of their childhood friend case. In Yamanshi, Minori (Kagawa Teruyuki) runs a family gas station. His younger brother Takeru (Odagiri Joe) is a successful photographer in Tokyo. In a family reunion Takeru returns home and go hiking together with his brother. Along with them, their childhood friend Chieko (Makimura Yoko). In this trip a tragic incident happened. Chieko falls and died. It is not clear, is it an accident, or is it murder? The two brothers are pulled into a court investigation in which secrets and true personalities are gradually revealed.

Police Officer Kankichi Ryotsu (Shingo Katori) is back at the Kameri Park Polic Box. Kankichi Ryotsu usually means to do well, but more often than not he ends up causing all kinds of trouble. Like on his way to work he away when he is asked to pay up by a shop owner or cheats an elementary school student. Ryotsu's co-workers Reiko Catherine Akimoto (Karina) and Keiichi Nagakawa (Mokomichi Hayami)have had about all they can take from Kankichi and his boss Ohara (Masato Ibu) is constantly berating him. One day, Kankichi runs into Momoko (Kyoko Fukada) - a women who went to the same elementary school as Kankichi and who Kankichi had a crush on. Kankichi also befriends Momoko's elemtary school-aged daughter Yui (Ririka Kawashima). Kankichi learns that Momoko is a single mother and works with a travelling dance group. During this time, Kankichi dreams of one day marrying Momoko and retiring from the police force. Meanwhile, Momoko thinks fondly of Kankichi, but can't forget Yui's father Mitsuo (Shosuke Tanihara). Kankichi then skips out on his job to help with Momoko's dance group performance. Kankichi is then caught by his boss Ohara who comes to watch the performance. Kankichi and Ohara soon start to argue. Kankichi then becomes angry and declares that he is quitting the police force and marrying Momoko. During this time, the police learns the granddaughter of the Police Commissioner has been kidnapped. An investigation HQ is quickly setup. The police then disover that the girl kidnapped is not the Police Commissioner's daughter, but rather her classmate Yui. Because the victim isn't the Police Commissioner's daughter the police investigation seems to lose its sense of urgency which angers Kankichi. Kankichi then starts his own investigation with the help of Keiichi Nakagawa and purses the kidnapper. As they delve further into the case they uncover another case from the past which the police seem to want to hide ...

Seamstress Ichie inherits her grandmother’s dressmaking shop. She uses the shop’s old sewing machine to make western-style clothing which is extremely popular with locals, but continues on the path laid out by her grandmother by avoiding mass production or branding. Ichie gets plenty of business from the shop’s regulars, making custom dresses and mending vintage items as she interacts with customers and reflects back on her life.

The original novel revolved around a young man who struggles with himself after killing a pawnbroker, Ochiai's manga tells the story of a college dropout and hikikomori (shut-in) who plans to kill a high school girl leading an enjo-kousai (compensated dating) group. Kora plays the role of Tachi Miroku, a dropout and hikikomori who is aiming to become a writer. He lost his father to suicide, while his mother and older sister have high expectations for his future. He ends up deciding to murder a heartless young girl named Baba Hikaru (played by Hashimoto Ai), who is the leader of an enjo-kousai group. The heroine of the drama will be the character Ameya Echika, played by Mizukawa. Other characters include the public prosecutor Goi Kurodo (Ibu Masato), the money courier Mikoshiba Haruka (Sometani Shota), and the mysterious man Sudo Kai (Tanaka Tetsushi). ~ Tokyograph

Sakura Tsugumi, 28 years old. Nickname: Ofukou-san (The Unfortunate One). Anyone who comes in contact with her will meet with bad luck too. With her sister's upcoming nuptials, Tsugumi leaves home for Tokyo to find work, but mostly to avoid anything bad happening to her beloved family in the celebrations. Tsugumi tells herself, "I will be happy!" and in trying to make that come true, she starts working at "Anew", a new company founded by an optimistic young entrepreneur, Sakae Konosuke. At the welcome party held for her by her boss, it soon becomes apparent that her "jinx power" is still going strong... ~ NHK

A psychological drama that explores the dilemma of whether a person who has had integral parts of them changed, fundamentally remain the same person.

Naruse Junichi hopes to one day become a painter, but he works currently on a factory line. His girlfriend is Megumi and his days are generally happy. On Christmas Eve, Junichi stops by a jewelry store to buy an engagement ring. He then becomes a part of a robbery at the jewelry and he suffers a head injury. Junichi becomes the first successful brain transplant patient in the world.

Junichi is unaware that he received a brain transplant. When he is discharged from the hospital, Junichi's hearing becomes sensitive and he also becomes violent. He does not hold the same feelings for his girlfriend, Megumi. Junichi realizes he is changing and becomes seized with horror. Meanwhile, Megumi hopes Junich becomes his old self. She also seeks to unlock the hidden mystery of Junichi's operation.

Adapted from the novel "Henshin" by Keigo Higashino.

Rookie detective, Sahara Natsuki, is assigned to the Investigation Division of Ginza police station. Here he has an unexpected reunion with his father and veteran detective, Akimura Shimao, whom he has been estranged from since his parents' divorce. They find themselves unwilling partners, butting heads repeatedly. Over time, however, Natsuki learns more about how to be a good detective from his father and possibly how to let go of their past as well.

Ishigami (Hidetoshi Nishijima) walks into his apartment and finds his wife dead. There's lit candles laid out in the room. Two men then enter the apartment for Ishigami, but he is able to flee the scene.

Ishigami then meets a Korean reporter Kang Ji-Won (Kim Hyo-Jin) who takes an interest in his plight and offers to help him. Ishigami surprises himself by being able to speak Korean and even having vague memories of himself as a Korean. Ishigami quickly learns to not trust his memory, while he attempts to uncover the truth behind his identity.

A Japan-Korea co-produced movie based on the Japanese science fiction novel "Genomu Hazado" by Tsukasaki Shiro.

The story is set in Asia in 2020 when West and East cultures are mixed in confusion. A young girl Genpou Shiori is a descendant of the the Phantomhive noble family. Shiori runs a large enterprise, Funtom Company, and she disguises herself in male attire, naming herself “Kiyoharu”. The family only allows males to be the head of the family, and they have also been tasked with the duty to solve difficult cases that happen in the underbelly of society by order of the queen. In order to get revenge, she gave up her life as a woman and made a contract with the demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis, in which Sebastian protects Shiori until she completes her revenge in exchange for devouring her soul.

Akinori Kimura (Sadao Abe) and his wife Mieko (Miho Kanno) opens an apple orchard in their hometown of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Due to Meiko's allergic reaction to pesticides, Akinori Kimura has to grow his apples without the aid of chemicals. Because of this challenge, his family endures hardships and suffers severe financial difficulties. Akinori Kimura even contemplates suicide. A miracle then happens ....

An extreme elitist, Ueba Kamo is a Tokyo University graduate and bureaucrat at the Ministry of Finance. Due to her mother’s sudden passing, she is forced to turn herself into an okami, or proprietress at a ryokan (Japanese style hotel). Growing up she had loathed her hometown Kyoto as much as she hated her rare name. Uebaya, the ryokan, is smothered in debt and she cannot imagine letting go of her freedom and success she worked so hard to obtain. In a fever of resentment, she grudgingly takes on the family business, dead set and confident that she would be able to turn the business around in no time. But becoming an okami isn't as easy as she imagined. The ryokan’s reputation plummets and the entire crew of employees begin criticizing her... Trying to escape her critical situation, Kamo is greeted by a shrewd consultant in finance. The crafty man’s name is Kinugawa Shuhei and as they quarrel and try to deceive each other, they find themselves becoming partners. The two set their mission to rebuild the ryokan back to its normal state.

What was the relationship between Kamo and her deceased mother? Was the ryokan more important to her than Kamo? Why is Kamo the okami of a ryokan she thought she would never set foot in again?

Overcoming the obstacles set in front of her, Kamo gradually becomes attached to her position as okami. Had this been her vocation all along? Don’t miss the breathtaking heart-thumping chronicles of a born-again okami!

In the late 1930's (Show Period 14), two sides in Japan are conflicted between joining Germany and Italy in a military alliance. At this time, Isoroku Yamamoto, who strongly opposed the alliance, is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. The following year, on September 27, Japan, Germany and Italy form the Axis alliance.

Isoroku Yamamoto leads the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The attack's main purpose is to gain an early peace settlement. The surprise military strike appeared successful and caused massive damage, but US aircraft carriers were not damaged in the assault. After the attack, the Axis alliance initially saw advances without any defeats.

By April 18, 1942 (Show Period 17), formations of U.S. B-25B bombers, flown from an U.S. aircraft carrier, attacked the Japanese mainland for the first time. The Japanese military responded by carrying out their Midway operation, but the mission failed, and the Japanese military lost 4 aircraft carriers.

The U.S. army were encouraged by their victory at Midway and proceeded to carry out a landing operation on Guadalcanal. The Japanese and U.S. military fought fiercely. Besides the toll from fighting the U.S. military, the Japanese military suffered from starvation, dehydration and diseases while on Guadalcanal. The Japanese military were nearing collapse on Guadalcanal before Isoroku Yamamoto gave the order to withdraw to save more lives.

After the completion of the withdrawal from Guadalcanal, Isoroku Yamamoto flew on an airplane to make moral boosting visits to soldiers on the front line. His plane would be intercepted by the U.S. military.

Motoko (Meisa Kuroki) is a detective in tip-top physical condition, excels in physical combat and willing to kill a suspect if necessary. Misaki (Mikako Tabe) is a cerebral detective with a warm. Both of these women are members of the Metropolitan Police Department's S.I.T. (special investigation team) and work to track down criminal Jiu, the ringleader responsible for a series of brutal crimes. Motoko and Misaki both become involved in personal relationships that leaves them hurt...

Nomi plays a samurai named Kanjuro who decided to give up his sword after a certain incident. He wanders aimlessly with his daughter (Kumada Sea), but because he abandoned his position as a samurai without permission, a price is put on his head and they're eventually captured. However, a notoriously eccentric feudal lord offers Kanjuro a unique opportunity to earn a full acquittal.

Handsome Suit revolves around a magical suit that makes its wearer more attractive.

In February 1972, five members of the Japanese Red Army lock themselves up in a mountain lodge in Karuizawa called Asama Sanso, taking the wife of its proprietor hostage. Sassa Atsuyuki (Koji Yakusho) of the National Police Agency is put in charge by his chief (Makoto Fujita), and rushes to the scene. The case is supposed to be resolved in a few days, but the police do not get permission to use guns, and in addition, there is the severe cold and continuous antagonism between the Metropolitan Police Department and the Prefectural Police, making things extremely complicated. On the tenth day, in an attempt to force a breakthrough, they eventually use a wrecking ball that is operated with a crane truck to break down the outside wall of the lodge, then start to charge in. However, the crane breaks down halfway through, hampering the continuation of this strategy and the ranks fall into confusion. After the head of the riot police sacrifices his life, Sassa takes his place at the forefront and continues the siege. Under his command, the riot police finally raids the room where the kidnappers are. The radicals are all arrested on the spot, and the hostage is safe and unharmed.

The Young Kindaichi is back and better than ever! In this first of many cases, Kindaichi finds himself onboard a cruise ship in which the captain mysteriously disappears the day after a big party. A search of the ship finds nothing, except for little drops of blood on the light switch in the captain's room. Might it be a clue perhaps? You bet! When what looks to be a case of serious foul play unfolds, the ship's radio is found disabled-so much for contacting the authorities. So, far out at sea until they can reach land, it's up to Kindaichi and friends to find the killer - and stay alive!

Set during Japan's Shogun era, this film looks at life in a samurai compound where young warriors are trained in swordfighting. A number of interpersonal conflicts are brewing in the training room, all centering around a handsome young samurai named Kano Sozaburo. The school's stern master can choose to intervene, or to let Kano decide his own path.

The 35th NHK Taiga Drama is Hideyoshi, the story of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle. He is noted for a number of cultural legacies, including the restriction that only members of the samurai class could bear arms. Hideyoshi is regarded as Japan's second "great unifier".

The drama won 11th Television Drama Academy Awards (1996-Dec-20) for best drama.

Abe plays the single Takagi Mamoru, an employee at a stationery maker. He ends up becoming the guardian of his deceased friend's twin children, played by Ashida and actor Suzuki Fuku. The show is primarily a home drama about the three of them gradually becoming a family, but it also contains an element of fantasy, as the two kids find a dog that can speak (played by a male Miniature Schnauzer).