My All-time Top Dorama
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1. Dai Renai: Boku wo Wasureru Kimi to
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
Nao chan T_T
All love and sadness really melt in. The first ever dorama that made me cry.
I love Dai Renai so much and wanted to find out more about this, eventually ending up as a MDLer.
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2. Fumo Chitai
Japanese Drama - 2009, 19 episodes
Most steady, longest running and possibly least entertaining one among my all time tops, but I just love it for some personal reasons (like Yutori).
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3. GTO
Japanese Drama - 1998, 12 episodes
Timeless classic. Sorimachi's Onizuka is indeed the greatest ever teacher to exist (at least in Japan).
The acting and chemistry between Sorimachi and Matsushima were just so natural, effortless to be Onizuka and Fuyutsuki which the remake simply cannot replicate. GTO indeed created The Heisei Big Couple.
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4. Hanzawa Naoki
Japanese Drama - 2013, 10 episodes
Everything is at the wit's end. The most thrilling dorama I've seen.
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5. HERO
Japanese Drama - 2001, 11 episodes
This is my guilty pleasure dorama. "Aru yo"!
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6. Karei naru Ichizoku
Japanese Drama - 2007, 10 episodes
Everything is grand, as the title says.
Heavy air is all around since the very first opening theme music, so intriguing and made me contemplate about the story and characters even days after completing it.
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7. Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
Japanese Drama - 2006, 12 episodes
Kuwano is my fictional idol. I wonder that I might really grow up like him if I did not met my gf back in college.
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8. Mahoro Ekimae Bangaichi
Japanese Drama - 2013, 12 episodes
Tada Benrikan - "We will accept most jobs as much as possible", and all hell broke lose. XD
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9. Ore no ie no Hanashi
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Possibly the best family dorama I have come across so far.
The way Kudo sensei infused the polar opposite components - comedy and tragedy, elegant Noh and rugged Pro-Wrestling makes it such a splendid dorama.
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10. Shinzanmono
Japanese Drama - 2010, 10 episodes
All the elements (dorama, SPs, movies) are beautifully joined in portraying Kaga's life story, staying true to the original novels.
This is a rare type of detective story which focus more on the motives, emotions and human drama behind the crimes. I found it unique and really love the way story weaved the personal lives of both the detective, suspects and victim's family.
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11. The Great White Tower
Japanese Drama - 2003, 21 episodes
One of the epics (if not the masterpiece) of Yamazaki-sensei.
How far can a man thrive and sacrifice for his ambitions? To what extent can he fulfill those, and does achieving those ambitions really satisfy his soul? Yamazaki-sensei left us with many things to ponder.
Story aside, the acting of Karasawa Toshiaki is pure class, no other actors at that time could portray the role of Dr. Zaizen Goro better than him.
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12. Yutori Desu ga Nani ka
Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes
A bit of Sakama, Yamaji, Maribu and Yamagishi's personalities and flaws exist within me, so I have special feelings for this one.