December 2025 is almost gone already. Due to Ulsan Hyundai's absolutely trash performance and standings this year, I gave up on K-League early (was that a good idea? F*ck, given the current state of things, if I'd watched the matches I definitely would've died from stress). So, a huge hole appeared in my three main hobbies: movies, international soccer, and domestic soccer. Thanks to that, around summer, I picked up a new hobby: J-dramas. I'm not recommending all of them, and there are a few duds (non-recommendations), but if you want to watch them, go for it (it was definitely less stressful than watching smelly Ulsan games;;). I also included OSTs that I thought were awesome while watching the dramas, so check those out.
1. The Fugitive Is a Coward But Is Helpful (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu) (2016) Starring: Hoshino Gen, Aragaki Yui Available on: Netflix, TVING, Wavve This is *the* gateway drug if you're getting into J-dramas. I started with this one too, lol. The subject, story, characters, acting, and comedy—it's a full hexagonal drama (perfect in every category). It’s also talked about more because the two leads actually got married IRL... Yui Aragaki is seriously so f*cking gorgeous. (Hoshino Gen, the worst man in the archipelago). Below is the drama OST, <Koi>, sung by the male lead, Hoshino Gen, who is also a singer—it's basically Japan's national song.
2. Saionji-san Doesn't Do Housework (Saionji-san wa Kaji wo Shinai) (2024) Starring: Matsumoto Wakana, Matsumura Hokuto Available on: Watcha, Wavve This is a romantic comedy, somewhere between sweet and turbulent, showing a career woman, a single dad, and his adorable daughter Ruka, and it’s also a great family drama. The casting was so spot-on; every character was great. Below is BUMP OF CHICKEN's <strawberry>, which was an awesome OST.
3. Two People Burning (Yaiteru Futari) ~Let's start our love from marriage on Day 0 of dating~ (2024) Starring: Kuroba Mario, Matsumura Sayuri Available on: Watcha, TVING, Wavve This was a romantic, healing drama featuring a genuinely cute couple. The combination of a male lead who loves grilling meat and a female lead who loves tasty food. The male lead, well... sometimes watching him, you kinda go, 'hmmm... is he missing something...?' He can seem a bit like an idiot sometimes, but it was still kinda watchable.
4. Ao Haru Ride 1 & 2 (2023 & 2024) Starring: Deguchi Natsuki, Sakurai Kaito Available on: TVING, Wavve This is the culprit that made me change my nickname to Deguchi Natsuki. This drama starts with Deguchi and ends with Natsuki. She's seriously f*cking cute and pretty... Deguchi in a school uniform is total first-love material. Highly recommended if you want a fresh, youthful student romance.
5. Hold My Hand at Twilight (Yuugure ni, Te wo Tsunagu) (2023) Starring: Nagase Ren, Suzu Hirose Available on: TVING, Wavve This is a romance drama where Suzu Hirose is truly captivating. Also, famous artist Yorushika's songs appear frequently throughout the drama. Honestly, they threw away all the plausibility, and the story progression is frustrating enough to drive you crazy... But Yorushika's <Algernon> is absolutely phenomenal, so give it a listen.
6. My Oshi Became My Boss (Osou wa Ore no Su-Su-Su) (2023) Starring: Suzuki Airi, Katayose Ryota Available on: Watcha, Wavve W-wait... I liked this...? This is the first time I've watched such an absolute hardcore otaku drama...? Somehow, I found myself watching without skipping a single part... The content of the drama is exactly the title.
7. We Are Crazy About Each Other (Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru) (2020) Starring: Yokohama Ryusei, Minami Hamabe Available on: Watcha, Wavve A romance/mystery/thriller where the two leads get tangled up against the backdrop of a traditional Japanese confectionary shop... Yep, it's just pure makjang/trashy drama. Minami Hamabe and Yokohama Ryusei look stunning in kimono, though; I realized that if the leads are hot enough, you can still immerse yourself in this kind of trash.
8. Because You Gave Me Your Heart (Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kureta Kara) (2024) Starring: Mei Nagano, Yuki Yamada Available on: Watcha, TVING, Wavve A fantasy romance drama about meeting a first love again after a long time. Aside from the first-love aspect, it also deals with family love, which was great in many ways. However, the biggest drawback of this drama is the fact that Mei Nagano, who plays this pure, clear first love with such an innocent face, is a total b*tch in real life who was having an affair with a married man while dating two others, which keeps breaking my immersion when I try to focus;;
9. Blue Moment (2024) Starring: Tomohisa Yamashita, Natsuki Deguchi Available on: Watcha, TVING, Wavve A disaster drama about natural disasters. It covers various stories about the Special Disaster Management (SDM) headquarters. Honestly, it's just a cliche soup. Deguchi cute.
10. Chihayafuru: Meguri (2025) Starring: Ami Touma, Mone Kamishiraishi Available on: Netflix This is set 10 years after the Chihayafuru movie series, which starred Suzu Hirose. Despite the unfamiliar subject matter of 'Karuta,' it did a great job conveying the passion of youth in their teens, so I enjoyed it.
11. MIU404 (2020) Starring: Go Ayano, Gen Hoshino Available on: Netflix, Wavve A drama about the 'Mobile Investigative Unit' (MIU), which is the first responder to crime scenes. It shares a universe with 'Unnatural,' a drama I'll talk about later. Because of the special condition of being first responders, it had a unique kind of fun different from typical investigative shows. Below is the OST, Kenshi Yonezu's <Kanden> (Kenshi is a legend).
12. First Love Hatsukoi (First Love) (2022) Starring: Takeru Satoh, Hikari Mitsushima Available on: Netflix The best drama of my life (though I haven't lived many years). The Hokkaido setting, the beautiful snowscapes, the plot structure moving between past and present, the acting, the setup, the story, the directing, the pacing—everything was exactly to my liking... Now that winter is here with the snow falling, I highly recommend everyone watch it at least once. Uniquely, this drama was actually inspired by Utada Hikaru's song 'First Love.' Make sure you listen to the song.
Since I realized this is getting kinda long, I'll be back with Part 2.
Since it'd be rude to just leave, here's Deguchi speaking Korean before you go.
"Looks like the thread is turning into a J-drama intro course, and the collective obsession with Deguchi-chan is getting out of hand."
#FunContinue Browsing
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