DISQUS

Tofugu Comments: Are you a J-Doramaholic?

  • Kurisutofa · 2 years ago
    I've always tried to get into jdorama, but I never had the time nor the resources to get settled into it. Most of the stuff I got into were k-dramas. And you know what, most of that was already considered old by the time I got to see them (ie: Summer Snow, Winter Ballad, Did We Really Love.. etc). I live out in Los Angeles now, but I haven't found any places to buy the DVD sets; maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. And I know there are online stores, but even then, I still can't decide what to watch, without thinking I might waste money on a mediocre drama. I wish I was able to subscribe to TBS, then maybe I would be able to get a little insight into whats good and what's not.

    I actually appreciate the info you posted up about your favorite dramas; i found it very helpful. (STDs... nice. lol). I tried to do something like that with my parents, but their heads are tightly tuned into TFC Filipino dramas. I can't get into Filipino dramas because they just seem uninteresting; Plot... argue, compromise, argue, deceit, crying, "to be continued... yeah, its pretty boring. I've only found one that was pretty decent with a Korean cast, speaking Tagalog. So far the only people I have been able to chat dramas with are the Japanese sushi chefs at Kyoto Sushi (my fav. place to go), and my aunty. Hehe.. lame, I know, but it's better than nothing.

    If anyone knows any stores that sell J/K dramas in the Los Angeles area, please let me know. ^_^
  • libii · 1 year ago
    Yeah I seen those TFC dramas... they are horrible >.<. They have really bad writing and cheesy acting and yeah... production value isn't high. >.> The women have 3 emotions. Super sad with lots of crying (omg~ stfu) then really angry and yelling. Then whatever talking. I'm just like be more subtle gawd. >.<;

    L.A. just go to the Torrance Mitsuwa or a Book Off (they sell DVDs too, well the one I went to) or Little Tokyo (though it starting to close...) in downtown near Chinatown. Maybe Yelp it?
  • Onimusha Nosferatu · 2 years ago
    everyone should see 1 litre of tears. i want another season on trick. that show could be cool and refreshing on american tv, but they'd screw it up.
  • Fred · 2 years ago
    I am a Gokusen addict... Gokusen! Fight-oh. oh! I watched like three episodes today of the second season. I didn't do my homework during the year because I got bored and I thought watching something would wake me up. So I'd go to bed at 3 and wake up at 6 with not much done. Haha. Okay it's not that bad, that happened once, and I only watched one episode. But yeah, someone told me to watch it because I wanted her to watch Heroes (one of the best shows ever!)! So now we're both hooked on Heroes and now I'm hooked on Gokusen. Then I also passed it on to a friend and now he likes it. Ahh. But yeah, Gokusen is like inspiring me to become a teacher... haha. Maybe I'll watch that other one? Not sure about it. I almost watched an entire episode of Hana Yori Dango cause my friend asked me to download it, but I stopped. Gokusen is enough... at least till I finish it! Uhoh... My eyes hurt now... too much computer.
  • Kurisutofa · 2 years ago
    Either they screw it up, or we get a watered down version...
  • koichi · 2 years ago
    GTO is what is making me inspired to be a teacher. If you like teacher dramas, you should definitely check out GTO.
  • TofuUnion · 2 years ago
    I have to say Densha Otoko, Beautiful Life, Water Boys, Trick and Ichi Ritoru no Namida are much better than GTO.(I havn't watched hana yori dango, Odorudaisosasen and Gokusen). THe best J-drama should be Trick that is so funny and Japanse.

    By the way, how long have you been calling yourself "Tofugu" ?
  • koichi · 2 years ago
    a little over 2 weeks, maybe
  • Ernie · 2 years ago
    koichi you gave me {std} why i looked at this entry puzzled and confused when then all my answers were answerd with GTO and then i bought the live episodes i didnt know how seriouse the case was intill i found out how late i was to school now i scared to infect but its to hard to resist i dont sleep dont eat either.
  • Captain Spanish · 2 years ago
    I know you were talking about jdramas but I was just wondering if there are any japanese movies you think are good. Right now I've seen Game(I don't know what it's Japanese title is) and Shimotsuma Monagatori(Kamekazi girls)
  • Ernie · 2 years ago
    gto is amazing i bought also its freakin amazing.
  • Kurisutofa · 2 years ago
    Ehh!~ Koichi, I was a little hesitant to start watching Hana Yori Dango, just because I was scared I might get hooked. I just got done watching the first two episodes... and well, ja-ku! You gave me that STD... T_T Now I'm debating whether to study for an exam on Monday or try to get as many episodes in before I go to bed; oh and I already ruled out going to church today... SIN! ahh... 私は決して失わない
  • Titianna · 2 years ago
    All but ODORU DAISOSASEN and Okane ga nai can be found on http:\\www.Crunchyroll.com I've been watching Gokusen and GTO on that site. (As well as Blood+ and various other anime and J-dorama) Check it out when you have the time. It's a good site. you cant full screen unless you've donated but that's ok you CAN enlarge the video at least. I really like Gokusen, the actress they got to play Ojo really does look like the anime version chick. And the actr they got for Onizuka for GTO is...well he's pretty freakin hot. Ok so I'm a little hormonal but they dont have men that are that pretty here in America. At least not that I've seen. :P
  • Cherie · 2 years ago
    hahaha, that video was great. I love watching Jdoramas. I like to catch them when they are just coming out in Japan, but it sucks because I can't watch them back to back (which I guess is also good. lol) I'm currently watching: Hanayome to Papa, Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru, Proposal Daisakusen, Sore wa, Totsuzen, Sore wa, Totsuzen, Arashi no you ni. Other than that I feel I have watched too many to name. It's great for learning the language. Each time I watch an episode I learn something new. Although prior to this article, I never thought of myself as an addict. Perhaps I am. ^^
  • Titianna · 2 years ago
    You know, they really need to make Love Hina or Ai yori Aioshi into a live action J-dorama. I'd totally watch those. They'd be great as LA shows. There'd be little need for alot of special effects.
    One LA anime remake you should avoid is Sailor moon...UGH! It was horrible, I thought my eyes were going to start bleeding after the 2nd episode. But anyway, at least the new releases of Prince of Tennis are pretty good. Not too cheesy. And Gokusen is always still the BEST! FIGHT OH OH! :D She's so cool!
  • Kurisutofa · 2 years ago
    Just wanted to add another to the list, this one is old but still pretty good. They showed it on TBS back in 2000, "Summer Snow". All around good JDorama.
  • animerika · 2 years ago
    LMAO "I should be at least 300 lbs like the other Americans" xD

    but seriously, they are sooo addicting

    It sucks though, through my personal experience, I kinda realize how corny some of them get because I brought a DVD into my Japanese class-Densha Otoko-and they were just like "..." while I was kind of embarrassed because some of them just had "WTF" written on their faces at times during the drama I remember having some kind of super emotional reaction.

    Anywho, ever watch Nodame Cantabile?

    I also wonder, is the Live Action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon considered a J-dorama?
  • Rock Martin · 2 years ago
    I haven't watched this J-dorama stuff; I might not get into it that easily because of the language barrier and the fact that I'm still not so experienced in focusing on both the subs and the actual show at the same time.
  • Lord Voldemort · 2 years ago
    Everyone should watch Hanazakari no Kimitachi e!!! It's pretty good, but some parts are a little, how would you say... scandalous? It does have Shun Oguri though who was in Hana Yori Dango, and if you thought Hanazawa Rui was moody and angsty, then if you multiply that by 100 then you'll get the amount of angst that his new character has. It even has Makino's dad as one of the teachers. The humor seems to be a bit juvenile, but I like it. Everyone should at least give this show a shot.
  • Sakuragts · 2 years ago
    I've been addicted for a while XD. I've watched Gokusen 1 and 2 and I've got to say that the first one was the best. Since I'm a sucker for romance I loved watching Densha Otoko, Love revolution, Hana yori dango 1 and 2 and Lunch Queen. My Boss My Hero, featuring the main singer of Tokio, was REALLY hillarious! One of my favorites, I recommand it greatly!
  • Casey · 2 years ago
    Hahaha, I've always kind of scoffed at dorama addicts but recently I got STDs from my cousin for Coffee Prince, a K-drama (Of all the things! I don't even like LOOKING at the Korean language!!). And I also have always had a soft spot for Hana Kimi and kind of watched some of the episodes of the Taiwanese on YouTube. Then my cousin gave me her Japanese episodes and I was like.... I should download some of these. Which lead me to a whole world of dorama................ Crap
  • Sushi · 2 years ago
    haha~ I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! Omg, you made it through one week~ I tried to pull my self away from the computer for three days but I had to crawl back on the third day and I started apologising profusely to my poor computer D: This is a cool webbie btw...
  • McT · 2 years ago
    I love the drama Gokusen! It's so funny and uplifting. I'd love to see subtitled DVD's avalible on the store shelves. The anime is alright, but the drama is so much better.

    I haven't seen the other one's you mentioned, but I have seen My Lucky Star. The episodes are almost movie length, but they are really fun. Not really funny like Gokusen, but still great.

    I wish they had a channel that aired subtitled jdrama (and the other kinds of drama too . .)
  • Ryohei Kitamura · 2 years ago
    Unbelievable, i was a jdoroma aholic too! i like Tokyo Furendzu, Gokusen and a lot more, i must be crazy! (°__°')
  • animerika · 2 years ago
    the only thing I found of okane ga nai is an anime OAV and I'm not sure if it's the same story but here it is just in case you want it

    http://www.crunchyroll.com/showseries?id=2471
  • Viet · 2 years ago
  • Tiya · 2 years ago
    OMG!
    I've given STD's to my family!!!
    How could I....have done such a thing! :*[
    ahahaha! XD
    love the vid koichi 0((^_-))
  • angela · 2 years ago
    of the j-drama ive watched, 'nobuta wo produce' has been the best! (haha, yes better than gokusen and hana yori dango)
  • fredy · 2 years ago
    Haven't watched a j-drama in like a month or more.
  • Stacy · 2 years ago
    Great post!!
    I agree with the ones that you like (especially kimi wa petto and densha otoko)
    Some of my personal favourites also include:

    Long Vacation
    Aoi Tori (l'oiseau bleu)
    Orange Days
  • Katie · 2 years ago
    Hana Yori Dango = Most Addicting Thing EVER. I stumbled across it in July. I had never watched any J-Dramas, and wasn't really into anything Japanese but I watched the first episode and it was so amazing. MatsuJun is love =) I heard their is going to be a HYD movie next summer. I can't wait!
  • Teresa · 2 years ago
    niice video, it was hilarious XD
    FIGHTO- OH.
    i understand.

    I AM A J-DORAMAHOLIC.
    ; ___________ ;
  • Viet · 2 years ago
    Recommendations please!!!! I've need something to keep my mind off of school work and work work.
  • stacy · 2 years ago
    I just finished watching 1 Litre of Tears series and I cried 3 times ;_;
  • stacy · 2 years ago
    @ animerika

    That link you supplied for the anime OAV is a yaoi anime... just so you know. @_@
    (not related to the J-drama)
  • lonna · 1 year ago
    I'm really addicted to Taiwanese dramas! The Hanakimi and Devil beside Taiwanese dramas are great! Water Boys and Hana yori Dango is great too!!
    Oh, I also love the live action Sailor Moon, Detective Conan Movie and Kimi wa Petto!! <3

    They are addicting when I sit down to watch a new one I usually watch it all within the weekend. AH!! I am a STD carrier too...
  • Sarra · 1 year ago
    I am addicted to Asian draman in general ! heheheh
    I am trying not to read any drama's name . Because I will search for it and then I will not study ! it made me suffer and I couldn't study but WHO CARES I enjoyed myself and lost any contact with the world ! ^^ yaaaay heheh
    I really felt like am japanese heheh I mean I suddenly speak some words with my friends like : Honote ? , Daijobooo :) , konechiwaaa , arigatoooo , doshta ? , gomenasay ,itaaaaai

    and I don't say yes when I answer any one I say : haaai or the sound (emm) :)
    i thinl they should invint a programe that doesn't allow you to watch more than one episode ! and the reasons why we watch sooooo many episodes in one day is because WE CAN and because we are not so busy and we don't have something interesting in our lives
    I mean watching dramas on TV is better ! but we don't have a J drama subed channel ! if there is any channel please tell me about it ! :D
  • Irene · 1 year ago
    My favourites are:
    -hana yori dango (movie coming out next year, hurray!)
    -hanazakari no kimitachi e (hana kimi)
    -stand up!
    -ichi rittoru no namida
    -summer snow
    -gokusen
    -kimi wa petto
    -great teacher onizuka
    -nobuta wo produce
    -akihabara@deep
    -galileo
    -densha otoko

    the ones I didn't like:
    -bambino (yawn... maybe Matsumoto Jun should just keep dancing in his gay outfits, although I secretly love him in all the other series. shh!)
    -liar game
    just 2 so far :p

    I need more to feed the addiction...
  • NanaTorigawa · 1 year ago
    hahahaha.. i love this post... I love J-doramas!!!! and thayt vid id true....
    From me.. i ahev seen more than 30 dramas in 1 and 1/2 years.... and the only reason i have not watch more is because i can't find one that intrest em alot....
    I'm to lazy to mention my favorites because there is too many....
    If you feel lonly with you J-dorama attiction... go to www.d-addict.com where the funn starts and NEVER ends.. hahaha.. anyway... J-dorama section is run by Johnny's fans so be warn if you do not know what a Johnny is... hahaha
  • nanci · 1 year ago
    @Koichi
    okay, so you said to comment on somewhere else for mixi invite, so here it is, kind of. Although I know you said at least a knowledge of hiragana and katakana (check!) but how will it be if my entries are very basic, things that you learn first semester of japanese, like how to introduce yourself? I learned a more, but you get the gist.

    So if you recommend that it's better when I'm more advanced, then no invite. This site sounds very interesting, but there's no point if I can't achieve anything at the moment. thank you!
  • Kim · 1 year ago
    JDramas are definately my favorite asian dramas. My absolute favorite would be Hana Yori Dango, but others I love are Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, Nobuta wo Produce, Kurosagi Gokusen, GTO, & Kimi wa Petto. Their storylines are just amazing, and JDramas don't overdue it on the number of episodes, either -- they're just wonderful!
  • Rokku · 1 year ago
    I made a blog devoted to Asian drama and movies. So...yeah, I'm a J-doramaholic alright. Do check it out, everyone! http://rokkuramu.wordpress.com/
  • steve caturan · 1 year ago
    I recommend Beautiful Life, Daisuki!! (currently airing) & Over Time along with terebi doramas featuring Motokariya Yuika (本仮屋ユイカ)
  • Una · 1 year ago
    I used to watch "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" with my younger sister, since we were also anime fans. And I loved "Eko Eko Azarak" (j-horror drama, yay!) too.
  • kobe · 1 year ago
    yes i love jdrama! last season i was watching galileo, n dream again
    both very good!
  • Madhatter · 1 year ago
    Man, I've seen everyone of those dramas, but haven't been able to purchase them all, since I live in Denmark I try to support the original creators, I bought the Bayside Shakedown dvd's when I was in Japan last november, but I want to try to get some more dramas when I am in Japan again July. Keep up the good work.
  • asian kid · 1 year ago
    yes i am its all awesome
    wow i love anything almost thats japanese so o well
  • Enzed Girl · 1 year ago
    Big dorama fan, seen quite a few. I'd say のだめカンタービレ is my favourite so far, wasn't disapointed at the specials either (Fuji TV is pretty much king right now). Recently I watched one called Life (ライフ), think it won a best drama award last year. I thought it was excellent, thought provoking and shockingly psychotic- although at times overly dramatic (but thats what a drama is I guess!) It was based on a manga, which seems to be the trend lately...can't wait till we start seeing a bit more orginality from the scriptwriters and stop with all this Johnny's crap- because I dont really care about kids that can't act to save themselves. I like Tomoya Nagase even though he's a Johnnys guy.I also think that Yosuke Kubozuka should make a come back.
  • OuterspaceAsian · 1 year ago
    I haven't seen a J-dorama, but, I've seen Lao Dorama and Thai Dorama, and it's all basically the same. I love the Dorama's that are Love/Comedy. Those crack me up haha.
  • sassy · 1 year ago
    Hmm, I watched only HYD (yeah i love abbreviations :p ) and Hana Kimi..and they were awesome.
    So you can't really consider me jdramaholic.
    But I think I'm pretty addicted to kdrama, because they got all the love triangles.
    Hey, I'm a girl I love romance and I'm sick and tired of american shows, where everybody seems to sleep with everybody (ok..my english sucks, but you know what I mean)
    And doramas/dramas are short. about 16 episodes and you see the happy ending (ok many dramas end like: first total hapiness and then suddenly in the last episode: everybody is killed, the main couple breaks up, the main character has to leave) But fortunately I don't watch sad dramas with sad endings :p

    And btw, I'm not asian.....and no I'm not a freak :p ^_^v
  • Ina · 1 year ago
    What I like about Dorama is that they have a kind of deeper meaning than the average American/ European soap opera.
    Personally, I like drama like Gokusen, My Boss My Hero (ok, my Japanese gets really bad with all those moderately bad guys/ boys in there), Hana Yori Dango was great too. Family dorama is also great!
    And I also like the theme songs of the doramas.
  • Seamas · 1 year ago
    kimi wa petto ftw, i can't stop watching..... must.... fiiiind...... what happpens.......nnnnnnnnnnexxxxxxxtttttttt ttttttttttttimeeeeeeee... GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
  • Lisy-* · 1 year ago
    I am a j-doramaholic and proud of it (even though i just started), i've watched HYD 1&2 and it is the best, i've seen it more than once and still want to watch more, can't wait for the movie to be out on DVD in Australia (hopefully with good subs).
    and ive also seen one called 'First kiss' (basically started watching it because of the lead character that was in HYD) First Kiss wasn't what i expected, but overall it was wasn't great but quite good.. very slow at the start but gets better in the middle and towards the end.

    i find it quite hard to find an actual real DVD with good subs, unlike the others ones i've purchased, one of them being 'one litre of tears' i couldn't bare to watch it just because the subs were that horrible, are there any sites to download it was english subs?
  • Zuzu · 1 year ago
    fight-oh. OH!
    I'm on episode 6 of gokusen season two.I don't know, I think after two seasons everything gets repetitive. But season one was A-M-A-Z-I-NG
  • Brianson · 1 year ago
    I watched alot of Jdramas , Kdramas and occasionally Cdramas. Actually most of my pasttimes of listening, watching and (occasionally) reading are all japanese or korean. Now I thats just way beyond addiction (for me that is).

    shows I love are (if you want to included everything): Hana Yori Dango I & II, Gokusen I & III, Hana Kimi (Japan version), 1 Litres of Tears, Haken no Hinkaku, Yamada Tarou Monogatari, Haikei Chichiue-sama, My Love Patzzi, Coffee Prince, Unfair, Absolute Boyfriend.

    ADDICTIONN!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!
  • therunawaycat · 11 months ago
    Hi j-doramaholic here too...
    Have you tried Nobuta wo Produce? It's meaningful.
    Well it keeps you from doing your work but without it you can't work. I'm making no sense?
  • Stephanie Koch · 9 months ago
    darnit! I watched the first episode of GTO last night, and now I want to watch more! :)
  • whifling · 9 months ago
    Sorry, know this topic is old but came here after watching the accompanying video on youtube ( '-')

    I use http://www.mysoju.com/ for jdrama. I wouldn't like to know how many hours I've spent there >.>

    The first dorama I ever watched was Hotaru no Hikari which is about a slovenly office lady who ends up sharing a house with her boss. I'd say it was Romance/Comedy.

    They're a total indulgence to watch - sometimes they're so cheesy. At least that's how I used to feel. Now I'm used to that way of story telling and like it best. The other reason I love to watch them is to pick up on all the little gestures and social interactions between people in Japan - things you wouldn't usually learn in a language class.
  • Johnny · 7 months ago
    Haha, I know what you mean about J-dramas or dramas in general. They are soo addicting. My friends have recently introduced me into them (1 liter of tears) and I am seriously hooked. BTW I like GTO too!
  • Mandela · 7 months ago
    I watch all of the shows at mysoju.com. they are addictive. I don't usually like drama, but J-drama are pretty cool. I haven't seen any of the ones you have listed though, but I will have to watch them when my holidays start.

    hana kimi, yasuko to kenji, taiyo to umi no kyoshitsu, taiyou no uta, Mop girl there were a couple more but don't remember their names.
  • garcon · 7 months ago
    im a dorama fanatic too!!!
    i recommend cool doramas like LIAR GAME,GALILEO, MAOU, KIINA
    if you want to get a touch of life try: LAST FRIENDS,BAMBINO, HANA YORI DANGO (crap i hate how the koreans butchered their version), GOKUSEN
  • Yohan · 5 months ago
    GTO BEST SERIES EVER!!! SORRY ABOUT CAPS BUT MY CAPS LOCK JUST GOT STUCK XDXDXDXD I SOUND LIKE A TOTAL RETARD IF U READ THIS LIKE IM A TOTAL RETARD!!! YEAH
    BTW its now fixed :D
  • Reingen · 5 months ago
    You're right, Koichi- my friend started me on Hana-Kimi and then I moved onto Zettai Kareshi and now I'm lost in the sea of J-Dorama. Gokusen is next on the list.

    I have never cried a single tear for a show in my life- until J-Dorama ruined me, that is. By the end of Hana-Kimi, I was crying at every episode. WHY? WHY ARE DORAMAS SO GOOD?
  • Jesi · 4 months ago
    omg!!!
    hana yori dango and kimi wa petto are one of my faves!! o^_^o
    but hey addictions are normal...
  • Cuzenu · 3 months ago
    I would suggest Fuma no Kojiro and My Boss My Hero, both can be found via veoh.com
    both are comedies for the most part, and fuma no kojiro also has a live stage play featuring the original actors.

    Kurosagi is another good one.

    I've seen: Zettai Kareshi, Hana-Kimi, Hana Yori Dango, anything I have suggested, Code Blue, Mukodono, and Nobuta wo Produce.

    Also Jay Chou's movie, Secret, is amazing, I saw it opening day when I was in Taiwan, and though I prefer Japanese movies/shows, this movie rocked my socks.
  • Vivvika · 3 weeks ago
    didn't even sleep last night because of hana yori dango season 2, loving that the cast is the same, always happens that once you start you can't stop, gosh!!!