Romantic Japanese Movies/Dramas
Here are some of my favorite romantic movies and dramas from Japan. I'm not usually into romance movies but these were so good I've watched them two or three times. :)
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1. Beautiful Life
Japanese Drama - 2000, 11 episodes
This is a love story between a disabled young woman in a wheelchair and a hairdresser, played by Takuya Kimura. They meet when he goes to the library where she works to borrow a book. What starts off as acrimonious meeting turns into a friendship and then a romance. Because of her disability she revokes his advances thinking he isn't sincere in his interest of her. But he, being patient, continues to pursue her. Their road to love enocunters lots of bumps along the way but they finally admit their feelings to each other. But, just as they grow closer, heartbreaking news disrupts thier lives.
I love Takuya and he was brilliant in this movie.
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2. Céu de Amor
Japanese Movie - 2007
I love this movie SO much! Miura Haruma is brilliant (as always) as he and his girlfriend go through so many trials and tribulations in their relationship including pregnancy, rape and a miscarriage. Heartbreaking story, well acted.
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3. De Cinco Para Nove
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
The beautiful Tomohisa Yamashita plays a monk who falls in love with a working girl, played by beautiful Satomi Ishihari, who accidentally throws ashes on him at a funeral. Thus begins a sweet and funny whirlwind adventure as they gradually fall in love. Yamapai was wonderful, as usual.
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4. The Samurai I Loved
Japanese Movie - 2005
I own this on DVD. It's such a beautiful, touching movie and the cinematography is gorgeous. A young girl loves her childhood friend who's father is falsely accused of corruption and commanded to commit seppuku. As a result, her friend and his family are driven out of their village. She catches the eye of a powerful lord and is made to leave to work as a maid in his mansion. The last day she is to leave she searches desperately for her childhood friend, hoping that he will marry her because as a married woman, she wouldn't have to go the lord - but he is nowhere to be found.
Years later, they accidentally meet but she is now the lord's concubine and has had his child. The old feelings are still there and he regrets she could not find him on that fateful day.