Japanese Dramas & Movies from the 90s and early 00s❤

An almost documentary-like drama of a deaf woman's journey from her childhood to adulthood, with one of the most caring and sensitive male lead ever, and lots of growth for all involved. A beautiful lesson in what it means to be 'family' and the importance of looking at the person, not the illness.

To be loved like that.. oh my heart *tearing up*
A beautiful drama full of companionship, positivity and compassion. The love between the siblings, the fierce loyalty and understanding between the leads, and the way everyone became one big family that was there for each other in good and bad warmed my heart. One of those dramas where there is nothing to dislike.. after all, it emphasizes living the one life we have to the fullest. This drama and couple are going into my favourites list.

A murder for love and due to love, and a journey of two broken souls who are unable to meet under the sun thereafter; beautifully heartbreaking, depressing yet captivating.

A quirky, and heartwarming drama about an awkward, eccentric and lonely 40 year old. Hiroshi Abe is Japan's answer to Mr Bean. I cracked up when he listened to classical music each night with his frenemy Ken the dog. You can't dislike this drama.

Hailed as the darkest love story to be released in the 90s, this is a raw and heartbreaking depiction of a toxic love story that spirals and consumes the leads, with brilliant performances by the trio. I wish we had more real love stories like these which depict three people who were not meant for each other, rather than the usual 'happy endings' neatly tied with a bow.

A heartbreaking, forbidden love story of two lonely, broken souls.

A heartwarming, charming and feel-good film about a man who learns to live his life to the fullest after he discovers dancing. What a timeless classic.

A gripping, compelling and complex human drama about a successful pianist's destined journey through his trauma to finding closure and redemption. Masterfully written and edited, beautifully picturised and directed, with one of the most immersive and best scores I have heard in an Asian drama, and a brilliant, effortless performance by Nakai Masahiro. This was a poetic masterpiece.

This is not a perfect film by any means especially due to its lack of coherence, but it leaves you with little doubt that Kurosawa is indeed a master of his craft.
It's not just about how visually stunning each frame was or how beautifully sound and majestic the score was, but about the depth and power each short dream held in conveying various themes of loss of innocence, death, suicide, Kurosawa's relentless desire to create, the futility of one's existence, destruction etc. The list is endless and each dream is likely to speak to each person on different levels.

A hauntingly beautiful love story that will leave you depressed. Those raw emotions, the way they looked at each other, the electricity felt with each touch.. where do I even begin about this drama? Easily one of the best student/teacher themed romance dramas I have seen, though it was more than just romance.Romance aside, this is an uncomfortable watch that I'd recommend only for an open-minded and mature audience. There are themes of rape, violence, incest, nudity, homosexuality etc so please watch with caution. The resolutions may not be what you're looking for but you got to watch it for what it is, and the time it was set in. This drama definitely didn't sugercoat things and will evoke disgust at some point.

"I just want the person I love to fall in love with the person he loves."
Tamaki Hiroshi and Miyazaki Aoi stole my heart away in this bittersweet and heartwarming tale of love. As with most classics, they just don't make them like this anymore.

Great for viewing on a rainy, cosy day with some hot chocolate. Soft, romantic & bittersweet. I loved every minute of this beautiful movie :)
Highly recommended for those who love romances!

An endearing and fun dorama of a found family of 12 adorable kids, the ever so charming Kimu Taku and lovely Koyuki. What's there not to love about this drama that teaches you to fight for your dreams.

A bittersweet coming-of-age story of a driven, competitive, and ambitious FL who stops at nothing to achieve her dream of becoming an actress, with a phenomenal performance by Adachi Yumi as Maya. The drama did a great job in showcasing the ins-and-outs of the entertainment industry, with lots of lessons in method acting. My only gripe was the slightly melodramatic turn it took in the last 2 episodes. Nonetheless, it was a very satisfying watch that I would recommend for those who love a good classic, and an equally good character-driven story.

A feel-good, uplifting and fun dorama centred around the aviation industry, with young and adorable Kimu Taku & Shibasaki Ko, and the very charming Tsutsumi Shinichi as Captain Koda.

A beautiful and heartwarming coming of age story with flawed, charming characters.

The title of this drama couldn't be any more apt. What a painfully dark and raw depiction of abuse, brilliantly acted by the whole cast. The first few episodes really broke me. No human deserves to be abused, but unfortunately there are so many sick people in this world who can't live and let live. To think that everything about this drama is as relevant even today... sigh. The world is in an inhuman place that way.

This is one of those rare movies that feels so real while being so feel-good, fun, and entertaining at the same time. You can't finish it without smiling and feeling satisfied. A must watch for all, especially jazz lovers.

A simple, loveable and heartwarming drama consisting of likeable, pleasant & real characters in the neighborhood that spread love and teach you to respect and accept one another. I loved them all, and would have loved for this drama to go on and on.

A simple, feel-good romcom about 2 easy-going, smart, and charming adults who strike a friendship over bowling, and fall in love with each other slowly. A rare drama with zero negativity and leads who communicated constantly, and yet remained imperfect in their own ways. The supporting characters were really likeable and fun too. Time flew by with this one. It just flowed beautifully and ended in the best way it could. As charming as a classic could be, and should be!

Masterfully filmed and written by Iwai Shunji, with fantastic performances by Chara and Asano Tadanobu, this was a tragic, heavy & hypnotic piece of art depicting the journey of 3 mentally disturbed inmates who set out on a path to what they believe as the end of the world, with a bible and picnic basket.
WARNING: It's a rather disturbing film that clearly isn't for everybody, especially kids please stay away. READ THE TAGS.

Despite the repetitive first half, I find the characters and their little world strangely addictive, heartwarming and immersive. I could watch seasons and seasons of Maya's perseverance and love for acting, Ayumi and Maya being frenemies, the love-hate tension between the leads, Sensei's torture tactics to get Maya to grasp her roles, and the list goes on.
Adachi Yumi, Nogiwa Yoko, and Matsumoto Rio were effortless as always, and Tanabe Seiichi took his charm notches higher in this season. Much to my surprise, I loved this season as much as the first. Don't miss it, especially for the heart-throbbing second half :)

A bittersweet humane story of two lonely souls, one who is blind and the other who sneaks into her house while on the run, finding solace, closure and support with each other's presence. A simple film full of loud silences, and a lot of heart.

"I am not Korean, Japanese. I am a tree without roots."
Action, romance, comedy, social commentary all rolled in one; this was just not what I expected. What a fantastic coming-of-age + slice of life dealing with some seriously deep and hard topics. As someone whose struggled with my identity all my life, this hit hard. Kobuzuka Yosuke never disappoints. Of course, this movie wouldn't have been possible without the master Kudo Kankuro, who just knows how to create the perfect balance of comedy, action, romance and heartbreak in every project.

Probably one of the most iconic Japanese dramas of all time, with an edgy direction / camerawork and characters played by an A1 cast that were way ahead of their time. Not to mention this was one of Kudo Kankuro's earliest works and he's never stopped delivering <3

Kubozuka Yosuke, as gentle and soft as ever, with a sweet yet broken Koyuki.. need I say anything more?
What a simple, quiet and endearing little gem. I loved this with all my heart!

A passionate and realistic love story between a young and immature beautiful woman and an older aged mature deaf man. Hands down, one of the most romantic Japanese dramas to date.

A minimalistic and quiet, yet powerful film that was engaging thanks to Beat Takeshi's idiosyncratic direction style and script, and Joe Hisaishi's haunting score. His nihilistic attitude towards violence is especially striking in this film.
This is clearly not Takeshi's best work, but it's one of my favourites from him.

A poetic and gloomy painting on loneliness filled with blank spaces, minimal dialogue, and a calming piano and jazz score. This was a pretty perfect adaptation to Haruki Murakami's short melancholic story.

A smartly written, gripping and unpredictable plot with 2 hot complex leads. This one had me hooked till the end. Way ahead of its time for 2003. What more do you need?

A rather simple and quiet film about a young man's love for surfing, and his girlfriend. I adored the way this film humanized the deaf-mute leads as 2 people who were simply doing what they enjoyed, and are not any different from those who can speak and hear. Despite the lack of dialogue, their sincerity and commitment towards each other shone through.

A mature, adult romance of our leads who begin cohabiting, with an A1 score.

Welp this was such a simple, heartwarming movie with a beautiful score. 

A realistic and well-written slice of life movie about a relationship between two individuals which blossoms over the internet, with very natural performances by Fukatsu Eri and Uchino Seiyou. The writer did a great job in bringing out both the safety and fears that comes with an online relationship. I also really adored the cinematography and the way we got glimpses of their everyday life. I can't believe this was released in the 90s, it could easily pass as a movie released today.

What makes this such a classic isn't just the violence or the way it influenced an entire genre, but the way it is still as socially relevant. A flawed but iconic movie for the ages.

A great sci-fi drama, and this is coming from someone who barely watches Asian sci-fi content. Beautifully written, with a masterful performance by Ito Hideaki as both twins, and a fitting score that was iconic, this was quite the ride.

TAIGA TAIGA JIRETTAIGAAAAAAAA! ?
All the characters, their comic timing, the chemistry they had together - it was a freaking riot. I laughed my ass off after a long time. Not only was it funny, but had so much heart. I rooted for and fell in love with each and every character. The writing was stellar, the editing & direction was pitch perfect. No words for the acting because it didn't seem like they were acting at all.

A beautiful coming-of-age story with Sorimachi Takashi and Esumi Makiko. I enjoyed their banter and friendship, and the the way they loved and rooted for each other. You can't tell me they were not soulmates, even though their relationship was platonic.

If you're looking for a drama with an interesting plot / cases, quirky and relatable characters, sassy bantering leads, an edgy direction fused with humour and wit; LOOK NO FURTHER. This drama is not perfect but it's the full package. I just didn't want it to end :(

A feel-good coming of age drama on friendship, ambition and transitioning into a young adult, full with nostalgia, sincerity and innocence.

A light, heartwarming and different romance dorama, with endearing leads, winning characters and sincere performances. 

You're not a J-drama fan if you've never watched this iconic adaptation of Boys Over Flowers.

The fantasy element of Rika internalizing her mother's rejection and regarding herself as an iguana beautifully captured the way parental neglect and beauty standards work towards shaping self perception. When reinforced time & time again, they shake one's core, and self-esteem, becoming their reality.

A sincere and heartwarming drama, with earnest performances by the FL and her mother. The little details and incidents that felt stretched out came together well at the end,in a satisfying conclusion.

Imagine having the ultimate king and queen of 90s J dramas pair up together, the expectations would be sky high and boy this didn't disappoint. The way the ML loved the FL, the angst, the chemistry.. ahh the feels these classic dramas bring, I can never get enough of them. This was by no means perfect and had its frustrating moments but Kimu Taku and Tokiwa Takako, as always, brought their A game and charm to this. The last 5 episodes were especially moving.

A multi-genre movie that hit all the right spots with its comedy, the heartwarming romance, and the detective-yakuza story. This was highly entertaining, and did not have a single dull moment.  Tsutsumi Shinichi was so charming.

This was so cheesy yet it was surprisingly heartwarming & fun! I freaking loved it! If this isn't iconic then I don't know what is.

If you're looking for fluff, or a light-hearted love story, this is not for you. This may make many uncomfortable especially if you cannot stomach watching relationships that are imbalanced, masochistic & toxic. The ML was unconditionally devoted to the FL & wished for her to accept him the way he was, while the FL wanted to love on her own terms & conditions. The result was an imbalanced relationship between the two that was painfully dark, real & twisted. It was a well-written & tight-scripted movie that was carried by fantastic performances from the leads (esp the ML).

A heartbreaking and solid psychological drama depicting the loneliness, the depression, the emotional turmoils and the heartbreak that comes with loving someone you shouldn't. It is scary how real this 23 year old drama was in portraying the complexity and messiness of modern relationships. Unless you're very lucky and have never had low self-esteem, or felt lonely, you will relate to Fujiwara Norika's fantastic performance as Akari, a woman who wanted to be loved and Tomita Yasuko's solid performance as a scorned wife who was driven crazy by the affair. Osawa Takao and Hiroshi Abe also delivered very sincere performances.
It was not an easy watch, but the journey and character development was worth it.

Watch for Adachi Yumi's effortless perforance as Maya and her sizzling chemistry with Tanabe Seiichi. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who squealed throughout their scenes. I love how the tension between them grew notches higher with each season *fangirling*

Iwai Shunji may not make the best films, but he's a master of creating poetry in motion with his frames. What a visually stunning and bittersweet film about friendship, love and teenage angst.

A decent coming-of-age romcom with a loveable FL and a playboy who finally learn to be independent, take charge of their lives and cherish what's important. Even though this classic is 25 years old, it remains as relevant and relatable as ever, both in its moments of frustration and growth. I enjoyed the constant banter between the leads, as much as the emotionally stirring moments. Their chemistry was just lovely.

All the characters seemed human, especially the leads. Kotoko wasn't just a stupid senseless stalker. While she fangirled over Irie, she didn't just take everything he did & said. She stood up to him, spoke her mind & won him over with her sincerity & effort. IMO she wasn't as clingy or stupid as in the other versions. Irie, too, wasn't as insensitive or cold. He smiled, and we see him notice Kotoko's efforts from the beginning. You can see his feelings for her grow & evolve slowly. Unlike the other versions he acknowledged her efforts various times. The mum, too, wasn't as forceful with her wish for Kotoko & Irie to be together. She was sweet.

A well done mystery that had me guessing till the end. I was shocked by who did it (who would have even guessed?!) The story was unique & the chemistry between the leads was beautiful (as with J dramas from the 90s). The ending really moved me.
Recommended for anyone that wants to watch a good psychological mystery / suspense packed with some romance.

A really grounded & solid coming-of-age story of the FL who steps out into the world for the first time when she makes the decision to live by herself. 

A really bizarre and unpredictable, yet moving and thought-provoking drama with sincere performances by an A1 cast of Kubozuka Yosuke, Tokiwa Takako, Yamada Takiyuki, Tsumabaki Satoshi, and Yamapi. A drama clearly made with a lot of love that is still as relevant as ever.

Watching the ML gradually fall in love with FL and her innocence filled me with warmth, Their chemistry was just so lovely. A pure love story, indeed, though I do wish the show explored their relationship as companions more.

A realistic drama depicting the ups and downs of single parenting, and the hardships a single parent faces when dating; the adjustments that come with it for all 3 parties and the various forms love takes in such a relationship. I am glad this wasn't a fluffy fairytale romance, but a story of substance.

A simple, sweet story about a passionate journalist, and her found family consisting of her deceased husband's teenage son who moves in with her, and her deceased husband's lawyer who frequents their house for meals. Suzuki Honami and Takizawa Hideaki made an adorable duo that were more like bickering friends, rather than step-mother / step-son. I wish we got a little more of our main trio's backstory though.

This was so good, but it could have been even better if this was a mini-series instead. That length wasn't enough to develop the characters and story fully. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-genre movie and was hooked all the way to the end.

A realistic and disturbing film depicting a toxic relationship between two mentally unstable individuals who were each other's muse, and yet abused each other to no end physically, mentally and sexually. This is not a film for everybody, especially not for kids / teens. Watch with caution.

A very humane story of two people who had given up love. The way the leads' relationship developed was very organic, and well done. The supporting characters, too, were flawed and as with most J dramas, you end up empathizing with all of them. My only gripe was the melodramatic finale, which was quite a contrast to the slice-of-life, understated tone of the show in the first 9 episodes.

A good mix of romance and comedy, filled with loads of bickering between the immature yet adorable leads and their strong-willed yet loving families, and some lessons on marriage. Takenouchi Yutaka and Tokiwa Takako were at their cutest here, loved their pairing! Though slightly tedious at times, it was a fun one-time watch :)

RIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA :(

Kimu Taku is truly a gift that keeps on giving. This man just knows how to pick good scripts. This could have been more tight-scripted, nonetheless it was a decent one-time watch that kept me engaged for a good 3/4 of the drama.
Give it a try if you love the classic dramas. It's not the most unpredictable plot but the way it unfolded gave it an edge, especially for the time it was made in.

I don't know what is it about these kind of films that I find so charming... there was little plot and it was rather slow, but the atmosphere of the film was calming yet lonely; the sounds of the construction work in the background, the backdrop of the developing town / city, the sound of that hot summer afternoon etc
The film takes you through an experience of the little mundane things in our life, all the way to what it means to feel, to love, to have your heart broken and be back to square one - loneliness. So much depth conveyed so simply and poignantly.
Now I feel sad, and lonely.

A short and simple film that effectively illustrated the power human beings hold over another. We don't live in isolation, and our actions have an effect on others. We can use that power to heal another through a simple conversation or by acknowledging them, or we can use that power to bully, and destroy them. The choice is yours, and "whether you like it or not, there's no reason to hurt [her]".
Also we have young Oguri Shun, Miyazaki Aoi, Aoi Yu, and Konishi Manami in this!

A simple coming-of-age drama focusing on a group of friends struggling to find their place and purpose in life post University, with relatable characters that you empathize with. Though some of the resolutions were neatly tied with a bow it was a fairly decent and enjoyable drama from rookie Nojima Shinji. One can see how he's grown into a solid screenwriter post this.

Despite the melodramatic second half, extreme characters and countless situations where you have to suspend belief, I did not hate this drama entirely thanks to Adachi Yumi. She carried this with her effortless performance and screen presence that you can't help but be drawn to her character and root for her. Her relationship with her dog Ryu was another plus and their journey together with its ups and downs, though unbelievable, moved me. If I was a young kid watching this show, I'd rate it a 10 easily, but as an adult, I find it hard to give this a high rating even though I was surprisingly invested in the FL's unforgettable journey, and felt all the emotions she went through.

Even though this was not as gripping as the first season, I enjoyed it thanks to Suzu and her adorable dog Ryuu. They could sell me anything as long as these two are together. 

A simple story with simple characters. The ML was charming, and the leads had a very sweet dynamic. Unfortunately the preachy and weak scriptwriting made this a frustrating watch.

"We'll go to hell together."

A film about two middle-aged married adults consumed by passion and desire for one another, with lots of nudity and sex. While this is your usual cheating story, it takes it a step further with two selfish leads who have the audacity to justify what they did and blame others for not understanding them.
Even though the film lacked depth, I guess it's worth a watch for the natural acting and chemistry between the leads.

While the location was beautiful and the film had a calm, soothing vibe, that was not enough to save the poorly constructed and slow narrative which made this a toiling watch. Young Ayase Haruka and Tamaki Hiroshi looked fresh and innocent but there was nothing memorable about their acting either. All in all, a forgettable classic.

The FL was really haughty and condescending, and the ML was way too nice. It wasn't that easy to root for either of them but love found them in the end.
I didn't dislike it, but wouldn't strongly recommend it as it has a lot of frustrating moments. Despite my review, I can see why it was such a rage back in the day.

Mediocre drama, with a charismatic and beautiful FL and a ML who was miscast. This had the potential to be better.

Mikami Hiroshi carried this mediocre drama with his nuanced performance as an eccentric, blunt and cocky musician. The drama had an episodic format for most of it with random guests coming in for an episode, which added little to the plot or the ML's journey. At the end, he achieved his dream but there was little character development for him or any of the characters. To think 2 scriptwriters co-wrote this together, and both of them are some of my absolute writers.. but oh well, this was one of their early works and both writers have grown by heaps and bounds.
I don't recommend this unless you're a fan of Mikami Hiroshi and want to watch everything he's ever done (like me).

I wanted to love this, but I struggled to even like it. It went downhill in the 2nd half. I loved the FL initially and rooted for her and I think that had a lot had to do with the actress. She had an innocence and silent strength to her. But I grew to dislike her towards the end of the series. I also disliked pretty much every other character in this drama, especially both the male leads, and the so called friend Naoko. The romance was also subpar and unconvincing.
The ending theme with the dogs playing was the most random thing ever, but probably the best thing about this drama. A close second, would be the character development for Shima. He went from controlling and abusive, to a much more calmer and empathetic person.
Miyazawa Rie deserved a better script :(

This film represented what it must have felt like growing up in Tokyo in the 90s, where easy access to sex, coupled with the lack of money, loneliness and uncertainty made life harsh. Not to mention, the Japanese economy was booming and life was no longer as simple thanks to the internet and mobile phones. The VHS format brought me back to my older days, but the way it was filmed with those close-up shots and constant moving camera made me uncomfortable. Either the director was a pervert or he intended to film that way to make the viewer anxious and feel a part of the characters' world.
There was little plot or character development but it was all about the experience of teenage angst and growing up. I didn't particularly enjoy it though I don't think it's a bad movie. I guess if you relate to it, you might enjoy it much more.
This one's not for the conservative viewer even though there is no explicit nudity or sex scene.

P.S What were the parents of these teenagers doing?! Goes to show that irresponsible parenting exposes kids to an ugly, messed up world which might take them a lifetime to recover from.