Fall 2025 Japanese Drama Ranking

A surprising drama from Netflix, in more ways than one. First of all, Oguri Shun. I mean, when was the last time he was in a romantic comedy? 2012's Rich Man, Poor Woman??? Then, the main lead- Han Hyo Joo, who plays a Korean-born, Japanese speaking, genius chocolatier!  A charming, cheerful, chocolatey treat!

Leave it to Netflix to deliver Grade A entertainment. I'm usually not one to watch period pieces, but this is an exception. Okada Junichi both stars in and directs this fictionary tale of the samurai in their final days. Be prepared for lots of gruesome and gory battles. Warning: NOT suitable for children!!!

Takeuchi Ryoma and Kaho star in this Cooking>Romantic show. Yes, cooking takes center stage. Not only is this drama of high-production value, but it is also informative. I think I want to try to make Chikuzen-ni one day...

I don't like fake things. So it should come as no surprise that I don't like the premise of this one.  I already foresee Haru's Fake Mommy character, as well as the real mother, played by Kawaei Rina, getting caught for scheming to getting Rina's genius daughter into a prestigious elementary school.

Iwamoto Hikaru is back to bodyguarding Shiraishi Mai. There aren't too many actressess with her fair, white complexion...I wonder if Narumi Riko's character can perhaps take on the duty of buddying up to fellow bodyguard Tatsunosuke?

Yoda Yuki is mesmerizingly pretty as Tapako, aka Asano Kanako, who is desperate to become popular through social media. Her first follower just happens to be ikemen police officer Watanabe Yuto, played by Sakurai Kaito.

A redo of a drama with the same name from 2023. It also stars Suzuki Airi, but this time her oshi is Yagi Yusei. Perhaps the story is just as good as the previous one, but to me the opening and ending theme songs don't live up to the cool and catchy ones from the original.

I'm hoping for romance between the two ML's, but admittedly many forces are working against the two. I like the aspect of them running away-- it reminds me of my favorite drama ever, Aoi Tori. By the way, does Sakurada Hiyori's character have psychic powers?

Cool Mamiya Shotaro and Bijin Araki Yuko make a nice tandem in this intriguing whodunit murder mystery. The two track down who's killing their classmates from elementary school.

Poor Yamamoto Riko (Kudo Mio) loses her job, and can barely pay the rent. Oh woe is Ri~(ko)! Luckily, or unluckily, she happens to fall into the arms of a wealthy businessman, who treats her royally. What will happen?

This show has just a bit of everything. A little sci-fi, a smidgen of mystery, a dash of friendship, a drop of romance (er, non-romance?)...Likewise, I have just a tiny scoop of interest in this drama.

Momo Sui, played by beautiful Ugaki Misato, is facing troubles, both from within and without. She's infertile, her fiance breaks up with her, she quits her job...what has she done to deserve this? And then a Knight in Shining Armor comes to sweep her off her feet...

Two single-fathers join forces to raise their children under one roof. Renho's character teaches them how to cook.

Another highly sexualized work by Tokyo MX, in a follow-up to their summer drama, Tada no Renai Nanka de Kikkonai: Kojirase Joushi to Fechina Buka. The premise is silly: shy female office worker wants to lose her virginity, and her handsome boss is just the man for the job!

Yamazaki Hirona is back as undercover Affair-Breaker-Upper Saegusa Rei. Unfortunately, season 1 wasn't very romantic, so I'm hoping for better things in season 2.

The summer episodes have finished, and now beloved Chiaki is foraging up some flavorful foods for fall and winter! This time, Miyuki spends more time outside of her workplace, leading to fresh stories, to go along with her evening meals with drinks!

The first two episodes of this idol love romantic comedy intermix with the movie of the same name, released back in June. Hata Mei is very cute with glasses. And Ohashi Kazuya can be himself, as he is in real life an idol.

This high school romance drama is WOWOW's follow-up to their Ao Haru series. This time the FL is Fukumoto Riko. Should be a piece of cake for her, as she was also the FL in the movie A Girl and Her Guard Dog. Thankfully, she gets a younger hunk this time in Takahashi Kyohei.  Will the two get together despite him having a girlfriend already? Will the viewer get tired of those circular light effects that keep popping up? Check it out and see!

In my mind, suspense dramas  are usually of the one-hour variety. But this one has romance in it, so it's only 30 minutes??? Anyways, I wish it was longer, because I'm drawn in by the relationship between Hashimoto Masaki's and Tsunematsu Yuri's characters.

I could do without the particular kind of domestic violence in this one, which is a big turnoff for me. But the sad situations surrounding the two mains, played by Igeta Hiroe and Toyoda Yudai, are enough to hook me.

Another silly premise for a romantic drama, which reminds me of summer's Moshimo Sekai ni "Renai" ga Nakattara, which had the silly premise of "What if there was no love in the world, only sex-friends?" Well, this show features slender Kawazu Asuka as a manga writer who wants to experience love but not intimacy. Okay...we'll see how the ratings go for this one!

Personally I would classify this show under Horror, as Kayashima Mizuki's character sure is creepy. I'm certain that this scary, stinky, spooky, high-school girl's wicked ways can be easily explained away by a troubled past. In the meantime, her homeroom teacher, played by Watanabe Daichi, must suffer at her hands.

Matsumura Sayuri and Shirasu Jin star in this comedic look into the lives of a married couple. It reminds me of Matsumura's 2024 work, Yaiteru Futari: Kosai 0-Nichi Kekkon kara Koi wo Hajimeyo. Albeit she's more talkative and outgoing in this one, and the focus isn't on food.

Long time no see, Tegoshi! It's been 7 years since his last drama. This time he stars opposite Oikawa Mitsuhiro, and the two end up living together with a junior high school girl who just happened to have about $200,000 to buy the place they live in. Eccentric show, if you ask me.

This show kind of reminds of the summer season drama Watashi ga Anata to Iru Riyu: Guam wo Otozureta 3 Kumi no Danjo no 1 Shukan. Couples on vacation, facing relationship problems. Relaxing watch.

Can't quite put my finger on this one. According to the homepage, this drama is supposed to have it all: youth, cool-vibes, mystery, comedy, action, romance. That's a lot to juggle if you ask me. There's even zombies!

Not sure how I'll stick with this one, a tale of three households living in the same "mansion," i.e. condominium. I'm more into concentrated stories.

A "Hero Period Drama" which is a re-do of an almost 60-year-old tokusatsu series of the same name. This Reiwa version features Sato Taiki as the masked ninja Red Shadow. I'm pleasantly surprised to see TAKAHIRO as Oda Nobunaga. This show is to me, 1/3 kiddy-fare, 1/3 tokusatsu action, and 1/3 serious historical drama.

Oh, the triumphs and tragedies of a long-distance romantic relationship. That's just the start with this show, as the lives of the two ML's other acquaintances begin to intertwine with theirs.

An All-Star cast truly makes this drama The Royal Family. Befitting these legends of Japanese entertainment, their world is an exquisite, equine one. We common folk can only watch in awe.

A lawyer, a detective, a precocious kid. They combine to make a formidable force against would-be wife or husband wrong-doers.