With interest in Japanese dramas gradually rising, we’ve listed five shows that you should definitely look out for in the coming months of 2024. According to About Netflix, Japanese-language content ranked third in the most-viewed non-English content, after Korean and Spanish on the streaming platform.
While many instantly (and rightfully) think of cult anime such as One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Pokémon Concierge, live adaptations of Japanese content are gaining attraction globally. FX’s Shōgun, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland and House of Ninjas, along with other titles have recently captivated audiences in thrilling ways. Japan is a lucrative market for streaming services as well. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Amazon Prime (22%) and Netflix (21%) take up the majority of the $4.6 billion streaming video-on-demand revenue market in the US.
With high-quality cinematography and gripping characters, the roster of Japanese dramas in 2024, though few, offers quite interesting stories. From romance and biography to crime thrillers, this list has something for everyone. Keep an eye out for announcements for their release dates as most of them are yet to be revealed – but we’re sure that they are worth the wait.
Check out our list of the best Japanese dramas of all time
Exciting live-action Japanese dramas to watch in 2024
The Queen of Villains
Directed by: Kazuya Shiraishi
Cast: Yuriyan Retriever, Karata Erika, Gouriki Ayame
Synopsis: Dump Matsumoto (portrayed by Retriever) always dreamt of becoming a successful professional wrestler in a male-dominated wrestling community. In the 1980s, she became Japan’s most famous and beloved female wrestler. This show is an intense biographical drama that opens the world to the personal and professional hardships of Dump Matsumoto.
About the show: One of the key story arcs to look forward to in this Japanese drama is the rivalry between Matsumoto and Crush Gals, comprising Nagayo Chigusa and Lioness Asuka. Additionally, eyes are also on Retriever, a popular Japanese comedian, who will reprise the role of Matsumoto.
Tokyo Swindlers
Directed by: One Hitoshi
Cast: Go Ayano, Etsushi Toyokawa
Synopsis: A group of land scammers con their way to stealing large sums of money in the real estate business. With multi-million dollar properties at stake, the battle between deception and truth keeps getting intense and more people fall for the scam as detectives attempt to discover the mastermind behind it.
About the show: The show is based on the best-selling book, authored by Ko Shinjo, of the same name.
Beyond Goodbye
Directed by: Kurosaki Hiroshi
Cast: Kasumi Arimura, Kentarô Sakaguchi
Synopsis: Saeko’s (Arimura) life comes crashing down on the most important day of her life – the day of her engagement to her boyfriend Yusuke (Sakaguchi), who dies in a car accident. She is devastated and numb to her surroundings, until a few months later, when she chances upon Naruse and feels an unknown connection. What she is yet to know is that Naruse received Yusuke’s heart in a transplant operation.
About the show: According to Netflix, this 2024 Japanese drama is written by Yoshikazu Okada popular for “his
human drama works among the Japanese audience.”
Romantic Anonymous
Directed by: Shô Tsukikawa
Cast: Han Hyo-joo, Oguri Shun
Synopsis: A shy but smart chocolatier gets a job at a small chocolate factory. Her social anxiety makes her work a bit difficult but things take a comic turn as she gradually starts falling in love with another person who is just like her. The series is a remake of the 2010 French-Belgian movie Romantics Anonymous by Jean-Pierre Améris.
About the show: This is an exciting addition to the list of Japanese dramas in 2024 solely because of the star-studded cast. Han Hyo-joo is a leading Korean actress revered for her dramas and movies such as Moving and Believer 2, while Oguri Shun is an A-lister in the Japanese industry known for his roles in Boys over Flowers and Gokusen, among others.
House of Ninjas
Directed by: Dave Boyle
Cast: Kento Kaku, Yosuke Eguchi, Tae Kimura, Kengo Kora, among others
Synopsis: A dysfunctional but formidable ninja warrior family living an ordinary life is thrust into a crisis management situation. They abandoned their skills years ago but must now bring out their secret lives to fight emerging threats.
About the show: House of Ninjas was released on February 15 on Netflix, and has an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.2 rating on IMDb.
FAQs
What is the most popular drama in Japan?
Global interest in Japanese dramas has been on the rise thanks to popular dramas such as Alice in Borderland, Tokyo Vice and Midnight Diner, among others. Although not a J-drama, Shōgun, set in ancient Japan, is currently one of the most famous dramas with its gripping storyline and action-packed cinematography.
Which is the best romantic Japanese drama?
Romantic Japanese dramas are filled with intense emotions, heartbreak and passion. Some of the best series that people swear by in this genre are An Incurable Case of Love, First Love, My Love Mix-Up!, Good Morning Call and Promise Cinderella.
An entertainment journalist, Afreen has written for several media publications, including Pinkvilla's Hallyutalk and SK POP with a focus on Korean entertainment. She holds a journalism degree from Xavier Institute of Communications. She has over four years of experience writing for digital media. She lives and breathes caffeine, K-pop and K-drama. When not writing, she's out exploring the streets of Nottingham, UK.
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