Fall 2024 Favorite J-RomCom/Romantic Dramas

After three episodes, Ranking #1!

This drama blows me away with its cuteness. I hardly ever watch a drama twice, but I find myself doing just that with this one!

Episode 1 Highlights
Introverted Gojo Wakana’s love for Hina dolls is cute and endearing- he even talks to them! And we are introduced to the outgoing Kitagawa Marin, a blonde-haired, Cosplay-loving Gal. 

Episode 2 Highlights 
The scene where Gojo takes Kitagawa's measurements--oh dear, that was heart-pounding! But what was most memorable to me was later, when Kitagawa and Gojo go shopping. I loved the way they bantered with each other as they went from store to store. Even the background music was so perfect! 

Episode 3 Highlights
Perhaps the scene which impacted me most was when a worn-out Gojo, weary from taking care of his grandfather, studying for exams, and bearing the weight of his promise to Kitagawa to make her cosplay dress, resolves himself to finishing her dress in time for an upcoming event. That wonderful background music once again plays, but this time for an extended period, and the whole scene gives the impression that Gojo really poured out himself in trying to do his best for Kitagawa. And when Gojo later puts makeup on Kitagawa, she looks painfully cute and adorable, like a little kid in a candy shop.

After two episodes, ranking #2!

I really like Nao. She's very personable on screen. I feel like I could have a totally normal conversation with her if I met her. Interesting story and well-acted and produced. Not exactly a Rom-Com, but definitely has good romance in it. I especially savor the love-hate feelings that Nao’s character, Sato Hokomi, harbors for Tamamori Yuta’s character, Kuzuya Kairi. This is Female Romantic Rocky. DA-DA-DADADA-DADA-DA-DA-DA (etc.)!

After one episode, ranking #3!

This one just suddenly appeared on my radar. After just one episode, I'm loving it already! It's thirty-something year-olds acting like cute kids. Very funny AND romantic, so it's just up my alley. I especially enjoy the strong-willed, free-speaking lawyer FL character, Mirumachi Kahori, played by Takada Riho. Hilarious! <<OMAE! BAKA!>> she screams in the first episode after slapping Watanabe Shu's character, Sunagoya, SO HARD! Why, you may ask? Because he failed to disclose to her that he is a married man, before they had their tryst, right after meeting no less!

After two episodes, ranking #4!

You've got a triple-double in this drama. Three couples. Of course, the story focuses on the main couple, played by Kikuchi Fuma and Kumada Rinka. I can count the number of times Kikuchi's character has smiled on one finger. So serious. And yet on his first date with Morita (Kumada Rinka), he spins her around and kisses her. On the other hand, Kumada's character is kind of bland to me. I can't really describe her in a way that would satisfy myself. Actually I wish there was more camera time to the third-rank couple, played by Saito Nagisa and Kaku So. She's Mini, he's Mighty. As for the second-rank couple, I personally like Yamazaki Hirona, and I like her glasses-look this time around. But as for her opposite, until I started watching the drama, I thought it was another woman. Instead, it's MR. Sakamoto, played by Shimekake Ryuya. Oops. 

After two episodes, ranking #5!

Very well-produced drama, IMHO. I like the Showa-era set-up and costumes. Matsumoto Honoka is cute in her glasses. Good story thus far of the partnership between the detective Suzuka and his unlikely partner in crime(fighting) being I-can-tell-if-you're-lying-Urabe. So far no romance, but I'm sure the two leads will soon get a clue.

After three episodes, ranking #6

Silly Romance drama that ends up being funny. I mean, you've got a suave Angel of Death who just loves to eat. So far clueless FL who just lets this Stranger of Death stay at her place, while her brother is clueful (is that a word?) and tries to protect his sister in the most round-about ways. All the while you know the Grim Reaper is actually the Grin Reaper, meaning he's actually good.

After two episodes, ranking #7

Weird Rom-Com where the FL, Onodera, is a high-school teacher who gets reacquainted with her first love, Yuichi, from her junior high school days. At the same time, his younger brother, Yuto, is one of her current students, and he's fallen for her! So two brothers going after one woman. What is Onodera to do?

After one episode, ranking #8

Not a Rom-Com. I've only watched the first episode so far, but I was disappointed. There was absolutely no subtlety in the producers' brains at all when it came to trying to get us to hate the husband of Matsumoto Wakana's character. They (the producers) obviously wanted the viewers to side with Kanzaki MIwa, the wife with copious amounts of GAMAN (the ability to take on pain with a smile on one's face). The husband was not allowed to show even one micro-ounce of love towards his wife. If I were Tanaka Kei, I would have hated myself after only one episode. This so we could forgive her one moment of weakness with a former school-mate on a library bed??? WHAT?

After three episodes, ranking #9

Hard to fairly rate this drama, as it's two short stories every episode. But some of them have been very cute stories, so that's a plus.

After three episodes, ranking #10

At once too serious AND too silly.

After one episode, ranking #11

Pure Romance. No comedy. Serious faces abound. No one raises their voice when talking. Popcorn determines the course of a relationship. Very relaxing piano background music...well, I've only watched one episode so far, so still a chance.

This drama will start on November 7th.