{"id":84236,"date":"2021-10-13T20:07:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T11:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=84236"},"modified":"2022-04-28T17:14:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T08:14:54","slug":"japanese-dramas-television","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/japanese-dramas-television\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Dramas: The World of Japanese Television ‘Dorama’ and the Best Ones to Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to popular entertainment, Japan is famous mainly thanks to anime and manga.<\/strong> However, there is a whole world of television to discover: that of Japanese dramas<\/strong>. If you’re looking for something to watch and looking for real-life actors, this is the article for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Last Cinderella<\/em>, my favorite Japanese drama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The popular manga Hana Yori Dango<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to Japanese TV Dramas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What are Japanese dramas (pronounced dorama<\/em>) exactly? What kind of dramas are out there and what do these Japanese TV series talk about? Read on to find the answers to all these questions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are dorama<\/em>s?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japanese dramas, also known as dorama<\/strong><\/em> (\u30c9\u30e9\u30de)<\/strong>, or terebi dorama<\/strong><\/em> (\u30c6\u30ec\u30d3\u30c9\u30e9\u30de<\/strong> from the English “television drama<\/em>“), are Japanese TV series regularly broadcasted on the country’s major television networks. These dramas are very successful in Japan thanks to the popularity of the manga or original works they are often based on and to the casting of well-known J-pop singers and idols of the moment<\/strong> who frequently play the main roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Poster for the Japanese drama Gokusen<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In Western culture, the term “drama” originally refers to a dramatic narrative plot, usually of mythological origin<\/strong>, and intended for theatrical representation (e.g. Greek tragedy). In the Japanese case, however, the term drama<\/em> refers specifically to a call to action<\/strong>: in most cases, the protagonists of these TV series must solve issues of financial nature, family trouble, or personal problems (especially love-related).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acting is certainly something you have to get used to: as it often happens in anime and manga, in dorama<\/em>, you’ll come across some quirky characters and scenes whose humor is typically Japanese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Different Types of Dorama Formats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most classic format is called renzoku<\/strong><\/em>, which refers to a series consisting of about 10-12 episodes lasting 45 or 60 minutes<\/strong> each. Renzoku <\/em>dramas are broadcasted in the evening at a fixed time (between 9 and 11 pm), once a week, and for a total duration of about three months. Sometimes these series also come with a special episode<\/strong> that airs after the finale. The plot often revolves around young people’s family, school, and work life<\/strong>, represented, in most cases, in a dramatic context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another format, broadcasted by the national TV station NHK<\/strong><\/a>, is the asadora<\/em> <\/strong>(asa<\/em>, \u671d stands for “morning” and dora, <\/em>a contraction of dorama<\/em>). The episodes, which can total up to 150, are 15 minutes long <\/strong>and air every morning from Monday to Saturday for six months (generally from March until September). Because they are shorter and keep people company during breakfast, they deal with simpler and lighter topics<\/strong> than regular renzoku<\/em> dorama<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Poster for Koizora<\/em> | Image Source: Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Million Yen Women<\/em> is also on Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yet another format, also by NHK, is the one called taiga<\/em> <\/strong>(\u5927\u6cb3, literally “big river”). This type of dorama<\/em> are made up of 50 episodes of 45 minutes each<\/strong> and broadcasted once a week for an entire year. The vast majority of taiga<\/em> dramas are centered on the life of a historical figure or on one of the main periods of Japanese history<\/strong>.

The newest and least common of the dorama <\/em>formats is the tanpatsu<\/strong><\/em>: a one-shot story that airs only once or for a few consecutive nights. It can also be a movie in the truest sense of the word or a special episode<\/strong> about the theme and characters of a popular renzoku<\/em> dorama<\/em> of the past. Sometimes you just have to watch it if you want to know how a series ends! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Genres of Drama are There?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The genres covered by dorama<\/em>s are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n