Summer 2025 Japanese Drama Ranking

Finally, a role for beautiful Nimura Sawa which I like! The roles are reversed, as she plays the Perfect Cheating Wife. Spicy! Maeda Goki and his sidekicks provide comedy to boot.

Triendl Reina stars in this easy-to-follow tale of revenge. Excellent make-up work in this one, as she plays two characters: one is the plain-looking, picked upon and cheated on Fujimura Aoi; and the other is the beautiful (after plastic surgery) Love Revenger Ito Sumire. Miyamoto Mayu is stunningly beautiful in her role as Fujimura Karin, the antagonist. Also, Kis-My-Ft2's song [Cheat] is IMHO the best song this season.

Kimura Fumino plays a high-school teacher who somehow gets mixed up with a host club hottie. She teaches him how to write. He teaches her how to love...

Yamashita Mizuki's character is a wife who kills her husband. He comes back to life (?) and they live happily ever after. What?

I wished these two sisters, played by Akita Shiori and Takada Riho,  would just get along. This show is quite reminiscent of 2022's Sister, starring Yamamoto Maika and Takimoto Miori.

I admire the one-hour length of this drama- a throwback to dramas of old. And the story, originally Korean, is engaging, to boot. Although I must say that I'm not really a fan of time travel, nor the personalities of the four main leads.

Although short ( each episode is only 15 minutes long) and the two main leads aren't exactly household names, this is not the normal romantic comedy.  Aoi Utano looks plain at first, but she grows on you. And Yamamoto Ryosuke does straight-face comedy well. And their romantic scenes might be the hottest this drama season!

Fujiki Naohito is one of my favorite male actors. HIs role as eccentric forensic scientist is right up his alley. His partner is played by Shiraishi Mai, who can spot a liar in an instant. Together they make a formidable team. Watch out, would-be evil-doers!

Although not really a fan of shows which highlight the fashion/beauty industry, nor cross-dressers, the romantic aspect keeps me from throwing this in the closet.

Ohashi Kazuya just has a natural comical air about him, which is what I like. His looks, mannerisms, voice all lend a hand to making me laugh and smile. This time he's paired up with a looker in Shibuya Nagisa. Also, orcas play a role in this show. 

I have a dog, so my interest is piqued by this romantic show with a canine/Korean twist. I wish I was more a fan of Kiyohara Kaya, though. Sure, she's a good actress, but to me her characters are seemingly always quiet, shy, and otherwise boring. My favorite character is played by Na In Woo. He gets to play the cool Korean rich guy.

Touma Ami in her first ML in a drama. I'm not familiar with the previous iterations of this drama, but I'll give this one a try. I'm pleasantly surprised that Hara Nanoka has a support role in this show. I also like Perfume's theme song, Meguri Loop.

Not a fan of thrillers with suspense and murder. But the Japanese title has "Renai," or "Love," in it, so that's why I'm checking it out.

Matsumoto Marika is looking beautiful and Yasuda Ken is looking handsome in their respective roles as employee and boss. Matsumoto's character is drawn towards Yasuda's, but he's married. I don't think it's necessary, but time-slip (they call it time-leap) is involved in this sci-fi romance.

Mori Kanna is back and beauiful as ever! I feel that over the years her gorgeous looks have not been highlighted enough, which is a shame. But in this drama, the lighting, the makeup, the close-ups are done very well. Too bad this time there are only six episodes.

My favorite cooking show, with the esteemable Kuriyama Chiaki. 

Konno Ayaka stars in this,  her latest damsel-in-distress office affairs and affection drama.  Her latest GESI (Gruff Exterior Sweet Interior) man is played by Totsuka Shota. He got a big old tattoo on his back...

I wonder when or if Tanabe Momoko takes a break from acting! It seems like every season she's in another romantic drama. In this series, it appears that she's again getting the short end of the love stick. But never fear, her yet-to-be-determined Knight in Shining Armor will be there to make her happy ever-after! 

Again, I'm not much a fan of time travel, although I did enjoy Proposal Daisakusen. And Yoshida Mizuki's character does a fair amount of that in this show. I do like the developing relationship between her character and Fujiwara Itsuki's, though.

Kitano Ruka, in her rookie main lead role, plays a rookie gravure model. Her character must overcome many obstacles in order to succeed. Can she do it? And can she and Oshida Gaku's character succeed as a couple? Stay tuned!

I'm sure there've been longer ones, but this drama's title might take the cake this drama season. Good to see Honda Tsubasa living in a share house again, as she did in Kimi no Hana ni Naru. But I'm not squared away with the premise of her and two others being head-over-heels in love with Iwase Yoji's Kita-kun character. Silly if you ask me, just like last season's Kirio Fanclub, which I dropped.

Three couples face relationship challenges in lovely Guam. There's something for people of different ages in this show- one couple in their 20's, one in their 30's, and one in their 50's. I'm most interested in the 30's couple, played by Renbutsu Misako and Mizobata Junpei.

I'm just here to check out the models...

Shimazaki Haruka sighting! i'll always have a fondness in my heart for her role in Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko.

I'm only watching this because I'm a day-hiker myself. Although after I climb, I usually just eat a rice-ball from the local convenience store. Nothing fancy like Shida Mirai gets to eat!

Even if there was a possibility of romance between the two leads, played by Taira Yuna and Maruyama Ryuhei, I'm not sure if it would be enough to stimulate me and make me raise this this detective-type show up higher in the rankings. (Dropped)

In this suspense-romance, Abe Sadawo and Matsu Takako play a seemingly happily married couple, but there's a secret...(Dropped)

This show is SO similar to the past winter's drama, Soredemo Ore wa, Tsuma to Shitai. Lots of vehemence between the spouses, played by Nakamura Anne and Ozawa Yukiyoshi. And with the further added element of a sister to go along with Shimada Tetta playing the SAME role as a troubled school boy, the fights are multiplied. I do enjoy the head-talk of each character, though. (Dropped)