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 There are plenty of Japanese Dramas out there for us to enjoy. This simple drama guide will help you see which doramas I recommend seeing!
Now just a warning; these small reviews may contain some spoilers. I will do my best not to say what happens in the end, since these are meant for you to discover different doramas that are out there.
Hanayome wa Yakudoshi (Bride at a Critical/Bad-luck Age)
 This drama is about Akiko Taketomi, a news reporter who has reached the “bad-luck” year for women. She has been replaced by a younger, more attractive anchor to do the news, and to be able to keep her job she needs to become a fake bride for an entertainment show and secretly tape all that goes on. She asks her school-days friend and ex-boyfriend Ichiro to be her fake fiancée since his family owns a peach farm. Will she be found out?
CAST
Shinohara Ryoko as Taketomi Akiko
Yabe Hiroyuki (矢部浩之) as Azuchi Ichiro
Matsushima Nahomi as Motomura Nozomi
Ozawa Maju as Azuchi Kaori
Koyama Keiichiro as Azuchi Jiro
Sato Hitomi as Katagiri Momoko
Ukaji Takashi as Hiroshi Takashi
Iwashita Shima as Azuchi Yukie
Hirayama Hiroyuki as Shoji Jun
Sasano Takashi as Azuchi Koji
Kudo Risa (工藤里紗)
Sawada Shunsuke (澤田俊輔) as Sakuma Tomikichi
Kurose Tomomi (黒瀬友美) as Wakai Reina
Fujioka Mami (藤岡麻美) as Suzuki Sayaka
Haruno (はるの) as Tayama Chika
Kawabata Ryuta as Ooishi Naoki
Gin Pun Chou as Azuchi Fumiyo
Sawamura Ikki as Inaba Toru (ep1,3)
The story is really easy to follow, yet the characters do speak really quickly. If you’re not used to reading subs or just getting into learning Japanese you will most likely have to replay some sections. There are really interesting characters (the Azuchi family in general give great laughs) and it’s easy to keep your attention.
I will admit though, the story does drag a bit when it comes to character development. They talk too much and it makes it boring. If you like love dramas you’ll probably like this one.
3.5 out of 5
Theme song: Astaire by Suemitsu & the Suemith
http://www.tbs.co.jp/hana-yaku/ -> official site
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Hanayome_wa_Yakudoshi -> DramaWiki
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Attention Please
 This drama is about a young girl named Yoko Misaki who was raised in a family of all men, which makes her extremely tomboyish. She was a lead singer in a band with her friends, and one day one of the band members who she had a crush on left for a job at the bank in Tokyo. As he is leaving, the other boys can’t get enough of the flight attendants and how beautiful they are, and how Misaki could never be as lady-like as them. She decides, since the one she has a crush on tells her she’d look good in that uniform, decides to become a flight attendant.
The story then shows that she discovers more about herself and if what she is doing is actually right for her and not for the guy, and her development with the other ladies and her teacher.
There is also a Hawaiian special where Misaki has her first international flight to Hawaii, and what happens when she gets there.
CAST
Ueto Aya as Misaki Yoko
Nishikido Ryo as Nakahara Shota
Maya Miki as Mikami Tamaki
Aibu Saki as Wakamura Yayoi
Uehara Misa as Hirota Saori
Koizumi Koutaro as Tsutsumi Shuusuke
Kohinata Fumiyo as Sakurada Shinya
Otsuka Chihiro as Sekiyama Yuki
Nanase Natsumi as Kinoshita Asami
Ootomo Minami as Higashino Haruka
Yoo Min (Fueki Yuko) as Asou Kaoru
Takahashi Mariko as Kagawa Reiko
Koichi Mantaro as Watanabe Makoto
Asano Kazuyuki as Wakamura Shozo
Inoue Jun as Dazai Shinichiro
Mano Yuuko as Murayama Mizuho
Hoshino Natsuko as Takemoto Rie
Tanaka Sogen (田中聡元) as Ooki Mitsuya
I absolutely loved this drama. Some did find Aya Ueto was a bit annoying with her over-acting, but I find it fit Misaki’s character to a tea. It’s funny, easy to follow, and if you hate flying, helps you learn more about airlines. You actually get into the drama and hope that Misaki and the rest pass all of their testings. Character development is also easy to follow and the special wasn’t over-kill. I wish they would create a second season.
4.5 out of 5
Theme song: "OH PRETTY WOMAN" by Kaela Kimura (Roy Orbison cover)
http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/AP/index.html -> Official website
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Attention_Please -> DramaWiki
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Gokusen
 A new, young and full-energized teacher named Kumiko Yamaguchi starts at a High School called Shirokin. Her goal is to make a difference in her student’s lives. However, when she started, she realizes she has been posted as homeroom teacher of classroom 3-D, the lower than low students who are assumed to amount to nothing.
To makes matters worse, she has to keep her past hidden. She is the 4th generation heir to the Ooedo Group, a notorious Yakuza clan. Once her grandfather passes away, she could become the next leader by blood, however she chooses to lead a legal life and be a teacher. She is also battling to become the love of one of the most hansom teachers that all the women are after.
CAST
Nakama Yukie as Yamaguchi Kumiko (Yankumi / Ojou / Koumichou) (Math Teacher/Class 3D adviser)
Matsumoto Jun as Sawada Shin
Namase Katsuhisa as Sawatari Goro, Kyoto (School Vice Principal)
Utsui Ken as Kuroda Ryuichiro (Kumiko's grandpa / 3rd Generation Oedo Yakuza Boss)
Anan Kenji as Wakamatsu Hiro
Kaneko Ken as Asakura Tetsu
Uchiyama Shinji (内山信二) as Tatsukawa Minoru
Ryogoku Hiroshi (両國宏) as Sugawara Makoto
Oguri Shun as "Uchi" / Uchiyama Haruhiko
Waki Tomohiro as "Kuma" / Kumai Teruo
Narimiya Hiroki as Noda Takeshi
Ishigaki Yuma as Minami Youichi
Itoh Misaki as Fujiyama Shizuka (English Teacher)
Nakazawa Yuko as Kawashima Kikuno (School Nurse)
Nabe Osami as Ando Osamu (Social Studies Teacher)
Kohmoto Masahiro as Iwamoto Kouhei (P.E. Teacher)
Ookuma Ichirou (大隈いちろう) as Oyama Hajime (Science Teacher)
Tayama Ryosei as Shirakawa Gonzou (Principal)
Saito Satoru as Washio Kanji (Japanese Language Teacher)
Sawamura Ikki as Shinohara Tomoya (Police Officer)
Sakata Tadashi (坂田聡) as Kashiwagi Yutaka (Police Officer)
This drama is really well balanced. You have comedy, drama and action all rolled into one. The one problem it does have is that it becomes quite predictable; a love triangle, a student gets in trouble, some sort of “almost discovered” and her kicking butt to save her students. This means it can lose your attention after a couple of episodes. It also drags in some parts that it tries to be dramatic, almost like over-acting. It is, however worth seeing; everyone knows about it.
3.5 out of 5
Theme Song: "Feel Your Breeze" by V6
http://www.ntv.co.jp/gokusen/ -> Official site
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Gokusen -> DramaWiki
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Kurosagi (Black Swindler)
 There are three kinds of swindlers in the world; White, Red and Black. White try to take your money, red manipulate you with your emotions. Black eats white and red.
Kurosaki is a young man whose family was destroyed by swindlers. He becomes what he hates so he can stop the swindlers who ruined his life and ruining the lives of others. He works with the master swindler Toshio Katsuragi even though Toshio had a hand in the destruction of Kurosaki’s family. One day he will kill him.
Kurosaki's life begins to change when he meets Tsurara Yoshikawa, a young law student who disapproves of his disrespect of the law in which he saved her family.
CAST
Yamashita Tomohisa as Kurosaki (Kurosagi)
Horikita Maki as Yoshikawa Tsurara
Ichikawa Yui as Mishima Yukari
Kato Koji as Shiraishi Yoichi
Yamazaki Tsutomu as Katsuragi Toshio
Kishibe Shiro as Mikimoto
Tayama Ryosei as Momoyama Tetsuji
Reina as Osawa Yuuko
Okunuki Kaoru as Hayasa
Sugimoto Tetta as Kurosaki's Father
Aikawa Sho as Kashima Masaru
It’s a darker drama with some interesting swindling action. The relationships between Kurosaki and the rest are all different and keep your attention and the swindles make you hope that he won’t get caught. This one is definitely not for everyone; especially if you dislike “mind/thinking” like dramas.
4 out of 5
Theme song: “Daite Senorita” by Yamashita Tomohisa
http://www.tbs.co.jp/kuro-sagi/ -> Official website
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Kurosagi -> DramaWiki
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Ichi Rittoru no Namida (One Litre of Tears)
 This drama is based on a true story. 15-year-old Aya Ikeuchi, daughter of a Tofu shop owner and soon to be high school student, has been given a cruel fait. She is taken to the doctor by her mother and has been diagnosed with Spino-Cerebellar-Degeneration – a horrific disease were the cerebellum of the brain deteriorates at a slow pace; causing the slow loss of normal motor skills, walking or even breathing and eating.
How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?
CAST
Sawajiri Erika as Ikeuchi Aya (15-20)
Yakushimaru Hiroko as Ikeuchi Shioka (40-51)
Nishikido Ryo as Asou Haruto (15-20)
Jinnai Takanori as Ikeuchi Mizuo (45-56)
Narumi Riko as Ikeuchi Ako (13-18)
Fujiki Naohito as Mizuno Hiroshi (33-44)
Koide Saori as Sugiura Mari (15-18)
Sanada Yuma as Ikeuchi Hiroki (11-16)
Miyoshi Ani as Ikeuchi Rika (5-10)
Matsuyama Kenichi as Kawamoto Yuji (17)
Matsumoto Kana as Matsumura Saki (15-18)
Mizutani Momosuke as Onda Kohei (15-18)
Hashidume Ryo as Nakahara Keita (15-18)
Katsuno Hiroshi as Asou Yoshifumi (50-55)
Oonishi Asae (大西麻恵) as Oikawa Asumi (16-17)
Hamaoka Maya (かとうかずこ) as Oikawa Kikue
Kato Kazuko as Fujimura Madoka
Tonesaku Toshihide as Takano Kiichi
Sato Shigeyuki as Nishino (homeroom teacher)
Sato Yuki as Asou Keisuke
This drama is really well done, however it is EXTREMLY sad. If you tear up easily you need a box of tissues handy at all times. Not only is it so good in making you feel bad about Aya, it also inspires you to live your life to the fullest and never take anything or anyone for granted.
5 out of 5
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/tears/pre_top.html -> Official website
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Ichi_Rittoru_no_Namida -> DramaWiki
And there we have it! 5 great dramas for you to check out! 
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