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Indian Express

Top 5 Japanese romance dramas on Netflix: From First Love to Nevertheless and more

It's been a while since Sakura and Haruto pulled us into the messy, addictive world of Fishbowl Wives, or since Riisa Naka and Tori Matsuzaka's fiery politician-actor romance had us fully hooked, just two standouts from the growing slate of J-content on Netflix. With the steady rise of Asian shows on OTT platforms, especially with the Hallyu wave cracking open the gate for viewers to explore everything from Thai dramas to Indian series, Japanese slice-of-life dramas, and more, it's clear that the OTT space, once heavy on Hollywood and English content, is now leaning hard into Asian storytelling. Japanese shows, on the other hand, with their tight 8–10 episode format, have become fan favourites for their portrayal of raw human emotions and a crop of talented actors, some already household names. Also read: News Anchor star Nagano Mei quits new J-drama amid rumoured relationship with co-actor, agency says 'great trouble caused to relevant units' Cast: Mone Kamishiraishi, Takeru Satoh, and Katsuya Maiguma Release Year: 2020 Director: Maki Enjoji The show revolves around 22-year-old Nanase Sakura, who fell for Doctor Tendo Kairi years ago after witnessing one of his life-saving, heroic moves. Motivated, she grinds her way into the medical field and eventually lands a job as a nurse, hoping to cross paths with him again. Five years later, she does. But the fairytale quickly flies away when she realises Dr. Tendo isn't quite the man she imagined. Turns out, he's a 33-year-old dubbed the 'devil' at work, a perfectionist to the bone, never hesitating to throw sharp-edged, constructive criticism at his peers. Most can't stand him. Sakura, on the other hand, is headstrong, unfiltered, and refuses to back off. She makes it her mission to catch his attention, never hiding how she feels. And somehow, her persistence starts to get through to him. Cast: Hikari Mitsushima, Takeru Satoh, and Rikako Yagi Release Year: 2022 Director: Yuri Kanchiku This 2022 J-drama follows two teenagers who first met in the late '90s. Yae and Harumichi spent years together, carefree, madly in love, until high school graduation pulled them apart. Yae moved to Tokyo, and Harumichi joined the Self-Defense Forces to study aviation. Before leaving, they promised never to forget each other. But 20 years pass, and everything's changed. Adulthood hits different, the spark's faded, life's gotten heavier. The story picks up again with Yae, who, after a tragic accident, gives up her dream of becoming a flight attendant and now works as a taxi driver. Harumichi, having finished his time in the Forces, is with a security firm. Then, just like that, their paths cross again. The drama is inspired by Hikaru Utada's iconic songs 'First Love' and 'Hatsuko'. Also read: Ji Chang Wook's Suspicious Partner and Beyond Evil get Japanese makeover: release date, cast, OTT, and more Cast: Haruna Kawaguchi as Kurumi Mashiba, Ryusei Yokohama as Shun Fujino, Ryûhei Maruyama as Haruto Terai, Anne Nakamura as Ayaka Hase Director: Ayuko Tsukahara The story is a fun little escape, no heavy hitters, perfect to ease your Monday blues. It revolves around Kurumi Mashiba, a super work-focused employee at a top interior design firm. Her solo motto? Look good, stay locked into the job, and hustle hard as a fashion influencer, so much so that she forgets everything else, including renewing her apartment lease. Which forces her to move into a shared apartment in Omotesando, the trendy Tokyo neighbourhood, thanks to her friend Kouko Saotome, a food stylist. But Kouko doesn't live alone. Kurumi now finds herself rooming with a bunch of free spirits who see life very differently—like Shun Fujino, a chef chasing a quiet, simple life, and Hase Ayaka, an aspiring artist. Slowly, the new setup starts shaking up Kurumi's world, she begins to question her priorities, rethink her image and opens up to unexpected connections and love. Cast: Ryusei Yokohama as Ren Kosaka, Sara Minami as Miu Hamasaki Release Year: 2024 (Japanese mini-series adaptation) Director: Nakagawa Ryutaro If you've watched Song Kang and Han So Hee's Nevertheless, then you already know the drill. The Sara Minami and Ryusei Yokohama starrer is a Japanese take on the same story, with just a few tweaks in the timeline. Miu is reeling from a breakup that was both brutal and humiliating, and now she's super focused on her art. But her life turns upside down when Kosaka Ren walks in, a free-spirited artist who's back in Japan after years abroad. He joins her university in Kamakura as a guest lecturer, carries a mysterious personality, and has that kind of quiet magnetism that pulls people in, even if he keeps them at arm's length. Except with Miu. That push-pull game. He plays it hard. And even though he stays emotionally checked out, Ren ends up stirring something deep in her that she can't shake. Release Year: 2024 Cast: Fumi Nikaido as Yuri Motomiya, Chae Jong-hyeop as Yoon Tae Oh, Taishi Nakagawa as Akito Hanaoka The story follows Yuri Motomiya, a girl who, after an accident, ends up with a supernatural ability; she can hear people's inner thoughts just by looking into their eyes. At first, it drives her crazy. The constant noise, the unfiltered mess in people's heads, it's enough to make her ditch her dates mid-way. But slowly, she starts making peace with it. And then walks in Yoon Tae Oh, a kind-hearted, soft-spoken Korean student with a calm vibe. Now, every time she looks into his eyes, all she hears is thoughts in Korean, which she doesn't understand. That unexpected barrier turns into her safe zone, letting her finally breathe, speak, and connect without the pressure of hearing every single thing running through someone's mind.