4 Summer 2016 J-Dramas to Keep an Eye On
It’s hot outside. What better way to cool yourself down then with some new J-dramas.
4. 闇金ウシジマくん Season 3 (Ushijima the Loan Shark)
Japanese Level: ☆☆☆☆
Season 3? Yes. I reviewed this series a long time ago, and it was a wild story that takes a comedic look at the underground loan shark world. It never ceased to amaze me. It takes the darkest topics of Japanese sub-culture, and somehow manages to create fun and entertaining characters around it. Season 1 and 2 (and the movies) delivered. Season 3? I have high expectations.
3. 死幣 -DEATH CASH-
Japanese Level: ☆☆
“Use it and you die!” The story of a poor misunderstood 10,000 yen note that is cursed, and when used by people, does what it feels is right, and kills them. I’m sure this will be absolutely silly, but the premise is clever. I’m expecting gloriously bad (and fun) B horror.
2. 時をかける少女 (The Girl who Leapt Through Time)
Japanese Level: ☆☆
A famous 50 year old novel. A successful (and entertaining) anime movie. And now a J-drama. The story of a girl who gains the power to travel back in time, repeatedly, to re-write every silly thing she decides she wants to fix. Only having 5 episodes feels a little short, and I’m sure the story will be completely different from the movie and the book, but can you miss a fun little high school romance time travel story…?
1. そして、誰もいなくなった (And then, Everyone was Gone)
Japanese Level: ☆☆☆
If you like 藤原竜也 (Fujiwara Tatsuya), I can’t imagine you missing this new series. He always stars in dark dystopia futures where everything is bad, the world is crumbling in some way, and he is just your average guy caught in the midst of it all. Battle Royale, Kaiji, Incite Mill, Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi, Death Note – all him.
This time is no different. Normal average guy gets caught up in some crazy incident where someone with the same name takes over his life. Fujiwara, you never disappoint.
Any other J-dramas you are looking forward to this summer?
Okay, my taste may be weird. What are some new series that you are excited about?
Founder of Jalup. iOS Software Engineer. Former attorney, translator, and interpreter. Still watching 月曜から夜ふかし weekly since 2013.
時をかける少女 is really good so far, hoping that it continues to be good. Seems like they are following the story from the book pretty closely except they updated it a bit. So it’s similar to 1983 movie more so than the anime adaption which is probably a good thing. I was a bit surprised as the first episode covers quite a bit so it has a lot of potential.
Death Cash is on my list as is 神の舌を持つ男 which looks like it’s going to be really funny. Another one to watch out for is こえ恋, based on the COMICO webcomic of the same name. Looks like it’ll be a good romcom.
I’m also waiting on ON異常犯罪捜査藤堂比奈子, but can’t remember why at the moment. It’s another show like ケイゾク, a female detective with some uncanny ability. Could be good if not too serious.
I’m also watching 水族館ガール but not sure I recommend it, it is interesting cause it takes place at a marine aquarium but other than that it’s unremarkable.
I’m looking forward to ON as well. Haru as a detective who likes spicy food sounds good to me!
Also really want to see 侠飯~. I don’t know anything about it except Namase Katsuhisa is dressed like a yakuza and food will somehow be involved!
Oh yeah! I forgot about that one, looking forward to checking it out too!
Currently watching:
水族館ガール seems okay so far. Nothing to get really excited about though, but the main girl is extremely cute.
はぴまり ~Happy Marriage!?~. The guy lead is a serious jerk (aren’t they always?) but it’s got it’s moments. Again, the main girl is extremely cute.
好きな人がいること. Pretty good so far. A good one to watch if you like cooking (and a cute girl lead).
I’m kinda sad most of my old favorite actresses don’t appear to be getting as many roles lately that I can see. Most dramas I’m watching have girls I’ve never even seen before.
Thought about watching 死幣 but for some reason I’m not a big Jurina fan at all. I just don’t get it really? (sorry Jurina fans).
I might watch 時をかける少女 but haven’t decided yet.
Honestly, how do you guys watch these shows in the states? Is there anywhere I could buy the episodes? (like how iTunes/Google Play allows you to buy episodes in the states)
Also, these all look amazing. I feel like I would need to watch Death Cash with some friends though just to share the laughs.
crunchyroll has some dramas but still looking for a site that might have more