魔王 / Maou

Title: 魔王 / Maou
Title translated: The Devil
Aired: 2008-Jul-04 to 2008-Sep-12
Genre: Suspense, Romance
Episodes: 11

• Ohno Satoshi as Naruse Ryo/Manaka Tomoo
• Ikuta Toma as Serizawa Naoto

DramaWiki's synopsis: This drama is a remake of the popular suspense drama The Devil that was aired in Korea last year. Ohno Satoshi will be playing the role of a two-faced lawyer, one of which is a kind hearted soul and the other who is plotting revenge, using his brilliant mind, on the person who killed his relative. On the other hand, Ikuta Toma will play the double lead role of the man, who has become a detective due to his dark past, who is pursuing the mysterious series of murders and fighting against the devil.

Thoughts: Superb drama. Suspense-filled throughout the entire 11 episodes. Loved the brilliance of Naruse in how he crafts the entire murder, then successfully gets an acquittal for the defendant. Getting his revenge right under the eyes of law! Ohno did an excellent portrayal of Naruse, showing the conflicting emotions between revenge and morals. Ikuta also did a commendable portrayal of Serizawa, struggling with his past and present. In short, a superb drama! Did I say this already?

１リットルの涙 / Ichi Ritoru no Namida

Title: １リットルの涙 / Ichi Ritoru no Namida
Title translated: One litre of tears
Aired: 2005-Oct-11 to 2005-Dec-20
Genre: Human drama, Family
Episodes: 11

• Sawajiri Erika as Ikeuchi Aya
  
• Yakushimaru Hiroko as Ikeuchi Shioka
• Nishikido Ryo as Asou Haruto
  

DramaWiki's synopsis: 15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya was an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. A cruel disease, as it does not affect the mind in the least. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?

Thoughts: This is based off a true story. Sawajiri's acting is so good you'll really start to think of her as the real person with the disease. Prepare a bucket and plenty of tissue. You're really gonna cry a litre of tears.

のだめカンタービレ / Nodame Cantabile

Title: のだめカンタービレ / Nodame Cantabile
Aired: 2006-Oct-16 to 2006-Dec-25
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Episodes: 11

• Ueno Juri as Noda Megumi aka Nodame (Piano)
  • Morisako Ei as young Nodame
• Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi (Piano/Violin/Conducting)
  • Fujita Reo (藤田玲央) as young Chiaki

DramaWiki's synopsis: Based on the hit comic book by Tomoko Ninomiya, this is a fun-filled quirky romantic story of two very opposite people.

Megumi Noda, or “Nodame” is a piano student at Momogaoka College of Music. An extremely talented pianist who wants to be a kindergarten teacher, she prefers playing by ear rather than reading the music score. She is messy and disorganized, takes baths several days apart and loves to eat, sometimes stealing her friend’s lunchbox when it is filled with delicacies.

Shinichi Chiaki, is Momogaoka’s top student. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. An arrogant multi-lingual perfectionist who once lived abroad in the music capitals of the world as a young boy, he feels mired in Japan because of a childhood phobia.

They meet by accident. Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame’s unusual qualities. Their relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Because of Nodame, Chiaki got the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.

Thoughts: Excellent drama! Good balance of the storyline, character development and humor all in one. Nodame is absolutely lovable, and Chiaki? Just made of awesome. Even NPB says so, and he's a guy!

山田太郎ものがたり / Yamada Taro Monogatari

Title: 山田太郎ものがたり / Yamada Taro Monogatari
Title translated: The Story of Yamada Taro
Aired: 2007-Jul-6 to 2007-Sep-14
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 10

• Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Taro
• Sakurai Sho as Mimura Takuya

DramaWiki's synopsis: Yamada Taro, a freshman on a scholarship at Ichinomiya Private Senior High School, is high-achieving, strikingly handsome, and truly athletic and seems perfect. But he is actually extremely poor. The story humorously portrays Taro, who tackles problems that occur because of his poverty, and his six younger brothers and sisters.

Thoughts: I LOVED this drama. This was one where I was alternating between crying and laughing. I truly recommend this to anyone who is looking for something to watch.