Welcome to J-Fan Drama - the site that you thought would never exist. Here it is! Now you can find all about the television dramas currently airing in Japan. We have images, summaries with light opinions, cast and character lists, and even short video clips!

Japanese TV dramas (or "dorama" as they are often referred to outside Japan) are probably the biggest form of entertainment in Japan. The biggest and most popular actors and actresses in Japan appear in TV dramas, unlike in the U.S. where the biggest actors appear almost exclusively in movies. And Japanese TV drama has spread and become quite popular throughout Asia. Now, even some people outside of Asia are starting to get hooked on Japanese TV dramas. Check out what we have on this site, and maybe you'll become the next "dorama" addict.

Most Japanese dramas are aired as a series of 10-12 episodes that are each roughly 45 minutes long (not including commercials). At the beginning of each season (yes, the REAL seasons of the year), all TV networks begin a new batch of dramas to replace last season's. Information on the dramas currently airing this season is displayed below.

We hope that English speakers who are interested in Japanese television dramas will find this site informative and useful. We know that it is very difficult to find these programs outside of Japan, let alone find them in English translation - especially if you don't live on the west coast of the U.S. or in Hawaii. This site will give you a glimpse of what you're missing. We hope that it won't serve to provide any further frustration to those of you who are itching to watch these shows in their entirety.

At J-Fan drama we cover "trendy" dramas that air between 9:00-11:00 PM. This is when practically all popular TV drama aimed at the younger audience is aired. We don't cover NHK dramas, "jidaigeki" ("period" dramas), children's shows, or anything else that doesn't air during the 9:00 or 10:00 time slots.

Please enjoy J-Fan Drama!

Summer 2006 Season

Welcome to Summer 2006, everyone. Right now we're still in the middle of the rainy season here in Japan, but late in July the rain will stop and the harsh humidity of Japanese summer will set in. Sometimes on these days it's best to just stay at home and watch some TV in a nice air-conditioned room.

I have to apologize to everyone in advance this season. I, the administrator of J-Fan Drama, am at a busy time in my life this summer. I'm moving from my current location in between the rice fields of Miyagi Prefecture to another part of Japan. I'll also be at my home in the U.S. for most of August. Thus, I am predicting numerous delays and unfeatured dramas this season. I'm also going to miss a lot of episodes while I am out of the country. So, sorry to all those who have been faithfully coming back to read every season. I will try to cover as much as I can between packing and cleaning and travelling.

So what dramas do we have to look forward to this season?

Yamada Takayuki and Sawajiri Erika (from 1 LITER no namida) have been paired up together in another drama about a guy who loves a girl who is terminally ill. (I guess these two are the only actors who can do that. It might be nice to see Sawajiri play a girl who isn't dying eventually.) The drama is titled "TAIYOU no uta", and it is based on a novel and movie which was made recently. I like these two actors, and I can't get enough of these bittersweet dramas about romance which is hindered by near and certain death, so I am looking forward to it.

Ueto Aya is in another drama this season. (She has been busy lately.) This time she plays a spoiled kid who grew up to be a depressed college student with no dreams who finally finds something she's interested in - a small, poor, and odd theatre troupe who nobody else seems to like. The title is "shimokita SUNDAYS".

If you liked seeing the life of a flight attendant in Ueto Aya's drama ATTENTION PLEASE last season, then you may enjoy a different look at the job in Mizuki Arisa's drama "CA to oyobi!" this season.

Abe Hiroshi plays a man who can't get married in a drama called "kekkon dekinai otoko" ("Man who Can't Get Married"). Why can't he get married? You'll have to watch the drama (or at least read the upcoming feature at J-Fan Drama) this season.

A drama called "SUPLI" aims to blow away the competition this season with a dynamite cast. The drama stars Itou Misaki and Kamenashi Kazuya from KAT-TUN - perhaps the biggest male and female on TV right now. They are backed up by other familiar faces like Eita, Shiraishi Miho, Ryou, Satou Kouichi, and Asami Reina. It looks like it will be a cute love story, and if it lives up to the hype it will surely be worth watching.

We'll try to cover as many dramas as we can this season, but as mentioned above, it may be difficult due to some personal circumstances. Look forward to reading what few features may come!

8/23/06 - The second in the series of slow updates this season has been completed. Here are kekkon dekinai otoko and CA to oyobi!.

8/11/06 - I really wasn't kidding when I said that it might be hard to do any updates this season. Well, I finally have some. "hanayome wa yakudoshi!" and "TAIYOU no uta" were added today.

Summer 2006 Dramas:

CA to oyobi!

TAIYOU no uta

hanayome wa yakudoshi!

kekkon dekinai otoko