It’s Winter TV Time: 30+ Wonderful Japanese Dramas Out In January 2025!

Tachibana Misaki (Kurashina Kana) was born in Amakusa but moved to Tokyo after high school. She became a successful fashion photographer, trusted by Italy’s top designers. After Misaki receives news that she has an illness that might jeopardise her career, her sister sends her a letter encouraging her to return to her hometown. Even though her trip back home stirs up memories she’d rather forget, it also reunites her with Shotaro (Maiguma Katsuya), her childhood friend.

The 2025 NHK taiga drama stars Yokohama Ryusei as Tsutaya Juzaburo, a man born to a poor family who starts a publishing company as an adult. Tsutaya, also known as Tsutashige, thrived during the Edo period, supporting the careers of several artists who are now renowned as masters of Japanese culture. However, with changes in the political scenario, Tsutashige’s satire and sense of artistic freedom led to his exile. He decided to fight the shogunate’s oppression by creating the greatest entertainment attraction Japan had ever seen.

Based on a true story.

After 10 years away, Minase Alice (Baba Fumika) is a young woman who decides to return to her hometown. There, she reunites with a childhood friend, Moriyama Harumi (Sato Ryuga), who is currently in high school. Despite their age gap, the two reconnect by the hearth of Alice’s farmhouse.

Adapted from Kinami Bunta’s manga of the same name.

Tendou Subaru (Nagase Ren) is an intelligent yet extremely egotistical heir to a major apparel company. Spoiled since birth, Subaru has always got what he wants. Except in romantic relationships, in which his narcissism has kept women away.

Tired of his grandson’s whims, Subaru’s grandfather orders him to work at their family’s business as an employee and to live in the company’s dormitory. There, he meets Hanakura Madoka (Yamashita Mizuki), a hard-working woman who catches his eye. Hanakura is Subaru’s supervisor and won’t be putting up with his spoiled behaviour. Subaru soon develops a crush on her — but the question is: will he be able to woo her?

Kouda Mari (Nao) is a green-haired police officer in the International Investigation Unit of the Higashi-Shinjuku Police Department. Energetic and cheerful, she’s dedicated to helping anyone in need, regardless of nationality.

Arikino Ryo (Matsuda Ryuhei) is a Chinese interpreter at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Interpretation Center. He has committed himself to providing precise translations between officers, witnesses, and suspects. However, he decides to leave the police force after a painful incident.

When Mari and Ryo cross paths, they join forces to solve all sorts of multinational cases. As they interact with foreign residents and share meals from around the world, Mari and Ryo’s journey sheds light on the challenges and experiences of living in a foreign land.

This is an adaptation of Kuromaru’s manga of the same name.

Aizawa Mahiro (Shinkawa Yua) and Igarashi Naoto (Shiono Akihisa) are married but have been living separately as their relationship cooled. They also used to work at the same company but, for one reason or another, Mahiro decided to change jobs. She’s happy with her new position — until Naoto joins her company. They agree to not tell anyone that they are married and pretend to be strangers. But how far will they be able to keep up the pretence going?

This is an adaptation of Umiishi Tomoe’s web manga of the same name.

Koshiba Mao (Saito Kyoko) is a sales employee who is heartbroken when she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. After drowning her sorrows in alcohol, Mao wakes up in bed with a stranger, Ando Hajime (Shirota Yu). She then finds out that he is not only her new supervisor at work but also her husband, who she drunkenly married.

Adapted from Sakurai Nui’s manga of the same name.

Narumi Aya (Adachi Rika) hasn’t had a boyfriend in almost a decade and she’s sexually frustrated. When Aya goes out for a drink with her supervisor, the divorced Dojima Goro (Hiraoka Yuta), she finds out that Goro is up for a one-night stand with her. From that day onwards, Aya decides not to feel bad about any one-night stands in her life.

Adapted from Nakao Motoko’s manga of the same name.

Hasumi Haruka (Taira Yuna) is a food buyer who has been assigned to a very important project. She loves her job and, despite her slightly aloof colleague Takashiro Minoru (Mokudai Kazuto), does her very best every day. They then meet Mikuriya Kyoko (Yamaguchi Sayaka), a “legendary” food buyer whose skills inspire Haruka and Minoru.

Adapted from Kuwano Kazuhiro’s novel of the same name.

Takezawa Tsunako (Miyazawa Rie), Makiko (Ono Machiko), Takiko (Aoi Yu), and Sakiko (Hirose Suzu) are four sisters who suspect their father has a lover and a child. They decide to keep it a secret for their mother’s sake. As they learn how to deal with this reality, their own secrets start coming to light.

Adapted from Mukoda Kuniko’s novel of the same name.

Kinokura Gen (Morisaki Win) loves to go camping — on his own. He’s done it for many years and is very resourceful. Meanwhile, Kusano Shizuku (Honda Miyu) is a university student who has just taken up camping. The two of them end up camping together but alone: sleeping separately but eating together. Through Gen and Shizuku’s experience, Futari Solo Camp focuses on sharing tips and recipes for camping lovers.

Adapted from Debata Yudai’s manga of the same name.

Solo Camping for Two is now available on Viki.

Omori Ippei (Katori Shingo) is a news reporter whose outdated opinions led to his resignation. He’s planning a political comeback and, in order to change the public’s perception of him, he decides to live with his widowed brother-in-law, Kohara Sosuke (Shison Jun). Sosuke is a single father raising two children after the passing of his wife. Could his everyday life with Sosuke and the children change Ippei’s perspective on life?

Ito Gin (Fujiwara Itsuki) owns a sake shop, which has been in his family for generations. One day, personified sake characters appear in the store, assisting Gin to select the drink that will help heal their customers’ hearts.

Adapted from Hiranuma Norihisa, Tachibana Kenchi, and Takumi Yo’s manga of the same name.

Yotsugi Megumi (Kudo Mio) is a university student who crosses paths with a mysterious and gorgeous young woman, Furuhashi Kotoha (Osaki Ichika). Megumi is eager to befriend Kotoha but, instead, Kotoha asks her to guess her real name. While she doesn’t, they will act as lovers. But, as soon as she does, they can be friends.

Adapted from Shasendo Yuki’s novel of the same name.

Kosaka Kento (Ito Kentaro) is a manga magazine editor who has always dreamed of becoming a novelist. When one of their manga artists, Fukada Yuzu (Yumiki Nao), goes on hiatus, Kento decides to help her out. Their relationship soon becomes romantic and they start living together. That’s when Suzuki Minami (Manaki Reita), a woman from Kento’s past, comes back into his life.

Hagiwara Kazuaki (Muto Jun)’s relationship with his girlfriend Mizutani Kaori (Akita Shiori) hasn’t been going very well due to the lack of intimacy between the two. Upset, Kazuaki writes an email that is accidentally sent to Nakarai Sei (Ito Asahi), his childhood friend and work colleague. As they don’t know each other’s identities, Kazuaki and Sei continue to exchange emails, sharing their struggles and desires. Soon, their feelings become hard to contain and they spill into the real world.

Hoshi Koyori (Aoi Wakana) is once again single, after being dumped by her boyfriend, who had been cheating on her. Devastated, she goes to her childhood friend, Akiyama Hijiri (Miyachika Kaito), to drown her sorrows. The next morning, she realises that she slept with Hijiri and feels awful — after all, if their relationship becomes complicated, she might lose her best friend. However, Hijiri confesses that he has always loved her. Will Koyori welcome this change in dynamics?

Changes of Heart is now available on Viki.

Each episode of Kaze no Fukushima focuses on one individual who relocated to Fukushima after the area received evacuation orders during the Great East Japan Earthquake. It shows their efforts and dedication to creating a new Fukushima and starting a new period in the history of the area.

It stars Otomo Kohei, Kuroki Haru, and Sato Taiki, among others.

Ikushima Kaede (Higa Manami) and Ichinose Jun (Iwata Takanori) have been living together for almost a year. On the surface, they are a happy couple. However, they have been keeping some big secrets from each other. Once these secrets come to light, their seemingly perfect life begins to crumble.

Endo Kiyomi (Ichikawa Mikako) lives in a peaceful town at the foot of Mount Fuji. She’s a single mother who works at a hotel and leads a very uneventful life. One day, she almost suffers an accident on her way home from work but she’s saved by an extraterrestrial being! From there on, Kiyomi’s life starts to change and she has to work alongside the aliens to protect her little town.

Hot Spot is coming to Netflix on January 29th.

Himenomiya Rei (Shimasaki Toa) is a high schooler who falls in love with Ouji Rin (Yoshida Mizuki) at first sight. While Rin has no interest in Rei, he’s determined to show his affection openly and change her mind.

Adapted from Lee Yong-ka’s webtoon of the same name, which has already been adapted into a K-drama in 2020 (Kakao TV’s Love Revolution).

Yanagida Gota (Kazama Shunsuke) is a failed scriptwriter who spends his days at home with his son Taro (Shimada Tetta). He would like to have sex with his wife, Chika (MEGUMI), but she adamantly refuses it every night. She’s also cold to him during the day and berates him at every chance she gets. Will they ever see eye to eye?

Adapted from Honda Tetsuya’s novel of the same name.

Kasuhara Yuki (Seito Nana) has just joined the Yokohama City Fire Department as a dispatcher. She’s being trained by Kaneshita Mutsuo (Seto Koji), the centre’s senior dispatcher. The show follows the lives of the members of the Yokohama Fire Bureau communication dispatch centre and the challenges they face every day.

119 Emergency Call is now available on Viki.

When Tachibana Sachiko (Sasaki Nozomi) was in high school, she and her father were framed for murder. Bullied at school, Sachiko found herself alone, especially after the incident led to her father’s death. Her only friend seemed to be Hanai Rena (Shibuya Nagisa) — until she found out that Rena was the real murderer. Years later, Sachiko undergoes plastic surgery and is hired by Rena to be a babysitter. Now inside Rena’s home, Sachiko plots her revenge.

Mitazono Kaoru (Matsuoka Masahiro) is back for a seventh season of TV Asahi’s well-loved Kaseifu no Mitazono. Kaoru is a housekeeper who cross-dresses. He’s assigned to homes of people who are often seen as “successful” by society but that, in reality, are condescending and arrogant. So, besides cleaning the house itself, Kaoru sets out to clean these families and expose them for who they really are.

Wakatsuki Madoka (Yoshine Kyoko) is a 26-year-old medical resident. The show follows her first two years at the hospital, facing challenges as a female health professional in a changing work environment.

Adapted from Mizutani Midori’s manga of the same name.

Katase Shiori (TOOMI) is a sweet and beautiful young woman who is currently mentoring her junior colleague, Shinozaki Takuma (Takizawa Tsubasa). She does her best to be a good “senpai” to him, making sure that he’s always comfortable at the office. Slowly, their feelings start to change into something a bit more romantic.

Adapted from Saiso’s web manga series of the same name.

Inugashira Kotaro (Kamikawa Takaya) is smart, strong, and quirky. He adores dogs and always wears a yellow coat. Most importantly, his keen deduction skills make him an excellent detective. One day, Kotaro meets Wakamiya Emiko (Uchida Rio), a kind-hearted officer worker at a real estate agency. Emiko is responsible for handling complaints related to mysterious phenomena. Together, they solve these bizarre incidents. A Sherlock Holmes-esque tale in the real estate industry.

Adapted from Okura Takahiro’s novel of the same name.

Fuda Kotaro (Takasugi Mahiro) is a warmhearted lawyer who runs his late father’s law firm, the Fuda Law Office. After a random encounter at the courthouse, he decides to hire the inexperienced Tendo Tatsumi (Kamishiraishi Mone). Tendo is a young lawyer who lacks people skills but can accurately predict the outcome of pretty much any case. She does so by applying the skills she learnt while preparing to become a professional shogi player, a dream that didn’t come to be.

Koyama Sena (Kawaguchi Haruna) is a lawyer who handles cases related to romantic relationships. She’s completely sceptical when it comes to love. She then partners up with Matohara Yu (Matsumura Hokuto), a quixotic lawyer who believes in the power and beauty of love. Despite their opposite personalities, they work together to find the best solution for their clients. They grow closer as they get to know each other but Sena’s past might be an obstacle for their relationship.

Mikami Takashi (Matsuzaka Tori) is a University of Tokyo graduate who joined the Ministry of Education with dreams of completely changing the Japanese education system. He soon realises he still has a long way to go before he actually manages to implement his vision. Mikami is then transferred to a private high school as part of a new bureaucrat dispatch system and starts working as a teacher. He decides to start his revolution from the ground level, standing up against the system around him as a first step.

Set in an alternative Japan where it’s possible to recreate one’s final memories, Tsuyoshi Maki (Itagaki Rihito) founded the National Research Institute of Police Science’s 9th Forensics Laboratory. After he loses Suzuki Katsuhiro, his close friend and colleague, he’s shocked to meet Ikkou Aoki (Nakajima Yuto), an investigator who looks exactly like Suzuki.

Adapted from Shimizu Reiko’s manga of the same name, which was also adapted into a feature film, The Top Secret: Murder in Mind (2016), directed by Otomo Keishi.

Pastry chef Shirai Aoi (Renbutsu Misako) opened her own confectionery shop in Osaka but she was forced to close it. She then meets Sadoya Manami (Nagasaku Hiromi), an eccentric culinary expert who wants to use Aoi’s kitchen to host confectionery classes. Manami only teaches one student at a time and even though Aoi finds the whole initiative a bit strange at first, she decides to help Manami out. Each of Manami’s students comes to their lessons with their own struggles. As they make sweets together, they heal their lonely hearts.

Adapted from Kato Tsubasa’s novel of the same name.

Hiiragi Hizuki (Haru) is the chief investigator in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigative Division, the “Hiiragi Team”. She’s known as the “Ice Queen”: a stoic detective who works mercilessly in the pursuit of criminals. The incredibly skilled “Hiiragi Team” is composed of eccentric detectives, led by Hizuki herself who can memorise any scene with photographic precision. Hizuki, just like her colleagues, has a past that she can’t forget even if she wants to. Will the members of the “Hiiragi Team” be able to let go of their past?

Yamashita Komugi (Hirose Suzu) is a university student who has lived a happy life alongside her father. One night, Komugi is devasted when she arrives home to a building in flames and the news of her father’s death. The culprit is soon arrested. Things change when Komugi receives a letter that her father wrote to her before his murder, in which he declares that the person who has been arrested is innocent of the crime. Soon, Komugi partners up with Matsukaze Yoshiteru (Matsuyama Kenichi), a lawyer who helps her investigate the case.

Adapted from Asami Rito’s manga of the same name.

Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle? is coming to Netflix on January 25th.

Haie Nao (Akaso Eiji) is a detective specialising in inheritance-related cases. He possesses hyena-like senses and boldly tackles any sort of problematic dispute alongside his brilliant colleagues.

Adapted from Nishiogi Yumie and Ikuta Yo’s manga of the same name.

Inheritance Detective is coming to Netflix! The date is TBC.