5 Recommendations for Underrated Japanese Romantic Dramas with Interesting Stories, Worthy of More Attention

Kapanlagi.com - For Asian drama lovers, Japanese dramas are one of the interesting shows to watch. This is because Japanese romantic dramas present romance stories with a different atmosphere compared to Korean or Chinese dramas. Currently, there are still many underrated Japanese romantic dramas that actually deserve more attention.

Underrated Japanese romantic dramas can indeed be an interesting entertainment choice. Although not as popular as Korean dramas, underrated Japanese romantic dramas offer unique stories, natural acting, and a distinctive touch of Japanese culture. From sweet love stories to complex romances, all are presented in this list.

Curious about what underrated Japanese romantic dramas deserve more attention? If so, just check out some recommendations and brief reviews below.

1. LOVE SONG (2016)

LOVE SONG (credit: mydramalist)

LOVE SONG is an underrated Japanese romantic drama that is a must-watch. This drama tells the story of Kohei Kamishiro, a former musician. Kamishiro is currently experiencing a setback in his career and is starting to think about leaving the music industry. For the past 20 years, Kohei has distanced himself from music. However, his passion for music has remained alive within him.

Everything changes when a woman named Sakura Sano enters Kamishiro's life. Sano has an incredibly beautiful voice that captivates Kamishiro's heart. Through their meetings, Kamishiro begins to feel the spark of passion and inspiration for music again. Amidst the rekindled passion for music, Kamishiro and Sano gradually start to feel the sparks of love emerging in their hearts.

2. ZENKAI GIRL (2011)

ZENKAI GIRL (credit: mydramalist)

The underrated Japanese romantic drama ZENKAI GIRL tells the story of a female character named Ayukawa Wakaba. She is an intelligent woman, a young graduate from a prestigious university who aspires to become an international lawyer. After graduating, Wakaba successfully secures a job at a prestigious international law firm. However, her excitement turns into disappointment when she is assigned to take care of her boss's five-year-old daughter, Hinata.

In this task, Wakaba meets Yamada Sota. Unlike Wakaba, Sota is a very laid-back man but still responsible for taking care of his own child. As they work together to care for the children, Wakaba begins to feel a closeness to Sota. This then places Wakaba in a dilemma between pursuing her professional dreams or nurturing a personal relationship.

3. IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH (2020)

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH (credit: mydramalist)

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH tells the story of Sudou Ichiharu, a furniture maker. Although he works diligently, Ichiharu has not succeeded in creating a new work that meets expectations. This frustrates him quite a bit. One day, Sudou meets Motohashi Sakurako, a worker at an advertising company. Although Sakurako can meet her living needs through her job, she is less successful in matters of love.

The two are attracted to each other and seem to be connected. However, they still carry their own emotional wounds. Sudou cannot forget the death of someone he loved. Every time December arrives, he loses his ability to speak for almost a week. Meanwhile, Sakurako has to support her family since her father's company went bankrupt.

4. KOI NO CHIKARA (2020)

KOI NO CHIKARA (credit: mydramalist)

KOI NO CHIKARA is also an underrated Japanese romantic drama that is a pity to miss. This drama tells the story of Toko, who is on the verge of giving up at the age of 30. The reason is that Toko feels she has a very poor career and romantic life. To forget her problems, Toko chooses alcohol as a way to cope, even though she knows this is not the best choice.

Suddenly, a man named Kotaro appears. Kotaro is Toko's first love from the past. Just like Toko, Kotaro is also unlucky in his job. Of course, Toko is happy to see Kotaro after such a long time, but she eventually discovers that Kotaro is very insensitive and egocentric. This bothers Toko a lot. However, in the end, Toko starts a small company together with Kotaro.

5. KOIZORA (2008)

KOIZORA (credit: mydramalist)

Another underrated Japanese romantic drama that deserves more attention is KOIZORA. Although it is considered old since it aired in 2008, this drama is still interesting to watch today. KOIZORA tells the story of a high school student named Tahara Mika who accidentally kisses her classmate, Sakurai Hiroki.

This incident makes Mika angry, especially because it was her first kiss. Meanwhile, at school, Hiroki has a bad reputation as a troublemaker. Worse yet, Hiroki already has a girlfriend.

It doesn’t stop there; Mika experiences unexpected events when she meets another man named Tatsuya. Personality-wise, Tatsuya is very different from Hiroki. Now, the three of them are caught in an emotional love triangle that is touching but also filled with pain.

These are some recommendations for exciting underrated Japanese romantic dramas that deserve more attention. Happy watching!

(kpl/psp)