If I understand correctly, Japanese dramas are exceedingly expensive to license. Maybe some day there will be a service similar to Viki that charges much higher subscription fees to cover licenses for Japanese dramas. I would be willing to pay more.
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If we’re sharing J-dramas that we want licensed and recommend to other J-drama fans, then here’s a list from me!
Love That Makes You Cry
いつかこの恋を思い出してきっと泣いてしまう (Highly recommended!)
Story depicts the dreams, friendship and love of young people who move to Tokyo, but struggle to live there. After Oto Sugihara’s (Kasumi Arimura) mother died, she was raised by her foster parents in a rural village in Hokkaido. Even though she is in a difficult situation with her foster parents pushing her to marry a wealthy older man, she lives brightly and diligently. She supports her foster parents by working at laundry. Ren Soda (Kengo Kora) was raised by his grandfather in Fukushima. Hoping that someday he will be able to buyback his grandfather’s land and they can work together, he moves to Tokyo and works hard at a moving service. One morning, Ren finds a letter, which seems important, among his friend’s stuff. His friend mentions that he stole it in Hokkaido. Ren is unable to ignore the letter, so he drives to Hokkaido to give the letter to the rightful owner. The owner of the letter is Oto Sugihara. Ren is aware she is being pushed to marry an older man and feels sorry for her. He gives her a ride to Tokyo.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
時をかける少女 
Mihane Yoshiyama (Yuina Kuroshima) is a 3rd grade high school student. She is a member of the photo club at her school. The day before her summer vacation, she smells a lavender scent in the science lab and she suddenly gains the ability to leap through time. Shohei Fukamachi (Fuma Kikuchi) is Mihane’s classmate. He actually came from the year 2122 and is a researcher. Shohei lost a drug that allows him to go back to 2122. In the meantime, Shohei hypnotizes those around him and lives as a high school student. Mihane and Shohei become to have feelings for each other.
My Lovers Secret
愛してたって、秘密はある
When Rei Okumori (Sota Fukushi)was in the 3rd grade of middle school, he killed his father to protect his mother Akiko (Honami Suzuki). His father physically abused his mother. They buried his dead body in their yard and made it appear he went missing. Since that time, they kept they their secret and did not tell anyone. 8 years later, Rei Okumori is now a law school student and pursuing his dream of becoming a lawyer. At his law school, he meets Sawa Tachibana (Haruna Kawaguchi) who hopes to become a public prosecutor. They fall in love and Rei Okumori wants to marry Sawa Tachibana. He begins to receive a message from someone that knows his secret.
Flowers For Algernon
アルジャーノンに花束を
Based on the novel “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
**Code blue Season **
3コード・ブルー～ドクターヘリ緊急救命～
Kousaku Aizawa (Tomohisa Yamashita), Megumi Shiraishi (Yui Aragaki), Mihoko Hiyama (Erika Toda), Kazuo Fuikawa (Yosuke Asari) and Haruka Saejima (Manami Higa) have worked and pursued careers down different paths.
Kousaku Aizawa left the hospital emergency room. He now works as a brain surgeon. Megumi Shiraishi works hard as a staff leader for flight doctors at a hospital emergency room. Mihoko Hiyama wanted to become a flight doctor in th past, but she left the hospital emergency room and now works as an ob-gyn. Kazuo Fuikawa works as a emergency physician specializing in orthopedics and works with Megumi Shiraishi. Haruka Saejima still works as a nurse for flight doctors. They each live fiercely and face new situations.
Pretty Proofreader
地味にスゴイ! 校閲ガール・河
Etsuko Kono (Satomi Ishihara) is a 28-year-old woman who loves fashion. Aspiring to become a fashion editor, she joins a publishing company, but she is sent to work in copy editing section. There, her job is to correct errors and inadequate parts of documents and copies.
The Girl And Three Sweet Hearts (actual translation is “to like someone”)
好きな人がいること
Misaki Sakurai (Mirei Kiritani) has not dated in a long time. She has focused on her work as a pâtissier to eventually run her own business. One day, she gets fired from work. She then meets her first love from high school Chiaki Shibasaki (Shohei Miura). Misaki Sakurai works part-time at Chiaki’s restaurant and also stays there. While she lives with Chiaki at his restaurant, she realizes that Chiaki’s two younger brothers Toma (Shuhei Nomura) and Kanata (Kento Yamazaki) also live there.
Daytime Shooting Star (Movie)
ひるなかの流星
Suzume Yosano (Mei Nagano) is a first grade high school student. She lived in the countryside, but, due to her parents transferring overseas for work, Suzume now lives in Tokyo with her uncle (Ryuta Sato). Suzume has never had a boyfriend before, but she has feelings for her homeroom teacher Satsuki Shishio (Shohei Miura). Meanwhile, her classmate, Daiki Mamura (Aran Shirahama), becomes attracted to Suzume.
The Liar And His Lover (Movie.)
カノジョは嘘を愛しすぎてる
Set within music field, “Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru” depicts a love story between a 25-year-old sound engineer and 16-year-old high school student Riko, who posessess a gifted voice. 25-year-old sound engineer Aki (Takeru Satoh) is a member of popular band “Crude Play,” but right after the band decides to make their major record debut Aki quits the band. But, Aki provides his music to Crude Play under the name of producer Soichiro. Aki begins to date Riko (Sakurako Ohara), whose father runs a fruit and vegetable shop. Riko doesn’t know about Aki’s background, but she likes to listen to him hum. Riko is in a band herself, with childhood friend Yuichi and Sota. One day she is scouted by producer Yoichiro.
We Married As A Job
逃げるは恥だが役に立つ
Mikuri Moriyama (Yui Aragaki) is 25 years old. She doesn’t have a boyfriend and doesn’t have a job even though she holds a graduate degree. Everyday, Mikuri Moriyama has a feeling that she is not needed. Her father, unable to see her suffering anymore, arranges for her to work as a housekeeper. Her employer is 36 year old Hiramasa Tsuzaki. He is single and works for a company. A series of events leads them to marry as a working condition.
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Also, I recommend checking out these youtube channels! P xxxwPST and Hazukii02 , they both make wonderful fanmade MVs of couples or characters from J-dramas. I watch them to get a feel of the characters/story and I’ve got to say, their MV’s have led me to a lot of great dramas!
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Good that I see that one! I saw half of it on the plane to Korea but was to tired to complete it and on the way back home from Korea I kind of forgot and watched other movies. But from what I saw it was cute.
So many good jdrama is mentioned here and a few I need to put on my to watch list 
We Married As A Job (逃げるは恥だが役に立つ) is one of the best shows, from any country, I’ve ever watched. It’s sad that it is so difficult to obtain proper licenses for Japanese shows. The same problems happen with Japanese music as well.
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Hi Please licensed ONE LITTLE OF TEARS., LAST FRIEND AND THE MOVIE I just wanna hug you.
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YamaP to Kame 
depuis que j’ai vu la bande annone de ce drama, je meurs d’envie de le voir mais impossible de le trouver :déçu_relieved:
Nobuta wo Produce est un de mes tout premiers dramas Japonais ^^
(je sais que cette publication date d’y a 3 ans mais j’avais envie de répondre 
)
Can anyone from Rakuten / Viki give us an update on when some new (or old, it doesn’t matter,) Japanese dramas will added to the lineup? And dramas that are not from the tired, overdone “Romantic Comedy” genre?
Because it would be great to see some new J-dramas, and it would be great to see some Medical, Police, School, Paranormal or Sci-Fi dramas from Japan.
The gross under-representation of Japanese dramas at Viki is just weird - given that Rakuten is a Japanese company - and the 98.5% barrage of Romantic-Comedies-Only is boring us to tears.
Please tell me something new is coming soon.
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so true! and new material, what about the “lord fox”, from another planet, and so many more !
If you have Netflix watch from Japan MIDNIGHT DINER. I enjoy each and every episode they have so far. I’m on MD3 these are short stories from people that go to the Diner, and you even learn to cook bc he says the ingredients and show how he cooks it, but since I can’t find the ingredients I haven’t been able to make any new Japanese dish. Some episodes are hilarious to watch and they have such a variety of stories you won’t see a story plot repeated… Some stories are sad and they will make you cry, but they strive to show more funny than sad stories. I requested them a long time ago but so far, nothing…
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Viki has two Midnight Diner movies that I recently watched. It’s the same set-up of small stories about people who come into the diner, with the same main lead chef. I really enjoyed the slow-paced but rich little stories we get of all the different people. I discovered that the series version is on that other site, so I plan to check them out too because I got hooked.
I am so curious about the scar that the chef has. Do they mention it at all in the series? There was no talk about it in the movies.
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I was wondering where the scar came from because I didn’t noticed the scar until now that I’m on the 7th episode of (midnight diner 3). There’s no way he had that scar from the beginning and I didn’t noticed he had it. I am so curious to know how and why that happened since he has such a calm and lovely personality. I’m gonna check the ones they have here, and am checking now if he had it in the earlier episodes…
So Netflix has midnight Diner 2014/2016/2019. Each season has 10 episodes so there are a total of 30 episodes. I don’t know if I skipped an episode that explains how he got a scar. I know there is a man that gets jealous of him bc his wife (who goes to the diner) likes or loves him. I’m going to pay more attention to see if I skipped an episode. that will give me the answer.
season 1 episode 1 tan-men without noodles
epi 2 corn dog
epi3 tonteki
epi 4 omelette rice
epi 5 Egg tofu
epi 6 Umeboshi and plum wine
epi 7 hot pot for one
epi 8 sauté yam
episode 9 ham cutlet
epi 10 new years eve noodles again
season 2
epi 1 chicken fried rice
epi 2 Chicken breast with cheese (I have to watch this one for the recipe)
epi3 Plum Rice Ball
epi4 Fried chicken wings
epi 5Yakisoba Dog
epi 6 Salmon and mushrooms
epi 7 kitsume Udon
epi 8Curry Ramen
epi 9 Sweet roll omelette
epi10 Toshikosto Soba
season 3
epi 1 Minced meat cutlets
epi 2 Pork wrapped tomatoes (sounds yummy!)
epi 3Taro and squid
epi 4 Pickled Ginger tempura
epi 5 Vermicelli salad
epi 6 Stuffed cabbage
epi 7 Clam soup
epi8 sautee Burdock
epi 9 Liver and Chives/chives and Liver
epi 10 Master’s Soba Noodle.
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Wow, so many eps. That will keep me busy for a while if I ever actually find the time to squeeze them in. 
Thanks for the info.
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yeah the other diner series, been watching them
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Angelight, “Midnight Diner” is an excellent series - I’ve watched all three seasons twice and they were just as good the second time around. I wish it were a real place so I could go there - and all of the characters are priceless.
But no response from anyone at Viki, which I suppose means they’re making no effort to add new Japanese dramas and are too embarrassed to admit it to subscribers?
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If you love all things Japanese, hop over to this link!
For anyone who has been looking for more J-dramas, specifically something that is not a formulaic rom-com, I suggest this:
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hey thanks for a heads up on this drama, the killer inside
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@shakalabbit [“shakalabbit, post:22, topic:15805”] I suppose means they’re making no effort to add new Japanese dramas and are too embarrassed to admit it to subscribers?
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They should be ashamed since the owners are Japanese, and they should be more than proud to promote their dramas, movies, and ESPECIALLY their Documentaries. I don’t know if in my past life I was Japanese, but I love their documentaries; that are so well done you feel transported to their mountains, Restaurants, and so many enchanting natural beauty. It’s a shame indeed.
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('Really, really hate “edit history” - a little like voyeurism when you think about it - and deleting isn’t even possible, so… again…)
I had intended to cancel my Viki subscription in protest to this ongoing situation of a.) a dearth of Japanese Dramas at Viki and b.) the tunnel-vision genre of 100% Rom-Coms among what J-Dramas actually are added, and… I forgot to do it. If the cost weren’t so inexpensive I’d be disgusted at my own space-out and find a way to reverse the charge, but… less than five bucks US per month so…
Viki accidentally gets another year’s subscription from me. And another year to see if they improve the dismal lineup of: Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com after Rom-Com. Maybe? And maybe add more Japanese dramas in general? Buuut… this just in from Viki, in my email Inbox:
Arrggh. Again, I can’t speak for anybody but myself but I would be happy to pay a monthly subscription roughly the same as Amazon Prime or Netflix (IOW $15-20) if there were an excellent selection of genres like Medical Dramas, Detective Dramas, School Dramas (that are not primarily focused on romance,) Paranormal / UFO / Ghost Story Dramas, Mysteries, Historical Dramas, etc.
Actually if Viki simply added the FujiTV drama “Life” from 2007 (from Suenobu Keiko’s manga,) at least one season of “Doctor X,” and/or “35-sai no Koukousei” (“Watashi, shippai shinai no de” - Yonekura Ryôko rules!) all would be well. In addition to their great rewatch value and the fact that they’re among my faves, I could actually convince a bunch of friends to subscribe on the strength of those three shows alone. Add a couple of historical dramas - like “Ryomaden” from 2010 with Fukuyama Masaharu and “Musashi” from 2003 with Ichikawa Ebizô - and most of my fellow students in my Nihongo class would probably join too. Etc.
To repeat what I’ve been pot-banging about here for a couple of years now, Viki is missing an easy opportunity to expand its viewership, simply by adding more Japanese Dramas, and adding serious dramas - in addition to the bizarre and now-tedious overload of sappy comedies.
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