The weather is finally becoming milder, but the colours around us are slowly turning warmer. What a lovely, cosy season autumn is! Autumn has finally arrived in Japan, and that means a whole new batch of Japanese dramas for us to enjoy! October promises an exciting start with Japan-Korea combos, new seasons of fan favourites,…
2026 Japanese dramas
Until the T-shirt Dries: A Meandering Walk Around the Dark Woods of Marriage
For those familiar with scriptwriter Ubukata Miku’s work, TBS’s Until the T-shirt Dries feels like a refreshing take on her recurring concepts and devices at first. It’s as if we’re guided down a path we’ve been down before, but there’s something different about it this time โ something compelling and enigmatic that persuades us to…
Stove League (Japan): Admirably Faithful to the Original and Yet…
Remakes are difficult to pull off. Either because different mediums have different grammars or because different cultures have different artistic styles โ or simply because the original sets the bar way too high (or way too low at times). Remakes are just as difficult to review, because there’s only so far you can analyse a…
Netflix’s Human Vapor Is Heartbreakingly Intoxicating
On December 11th, 1960, Toho released The Human Vapor, the third and last instalment in their “Transforming Human” series of sci-fi features (following 1958โs The H-Man and 1960โs The Secret of the Telegian). Written by Kimura Takeshi, directed by Honda Ishiro, and counting on Tsuburaya Eiji’s visual effects (quick reminder that Ishiro and Tsuburaya also…
Reborn: The Case of a Good Heart Against Bland Execution
TV Asahi’s Reborn certainly has a lot going on for it: led by the excellent Takahashi Issey in a dual role, it relies on an exciting blend of time slips, reincarnation, and found families. Top that off with a witty hero who helps the poor underdog win against the greedy magnate, and you’re bound to…
40+ Refreshingly New Japanese Dramas Out in Summer 2026!
Spring has come to an end, and with summer now upon us, it’s time for a completely new batch of Japanese dramas! We’ll see the release of dozens of thrilling, romantic, and funny J-dramas in the next few weeks, stories that will accompany us through the sweltering days of the season until the weather starts…
Soda Master: Quirkly Facing the Changing Tides of Time
Tinged by nostalgia and twisted by sorrow, our memories are anything but reliable. There’s no such thing as objectivity when it comes to human remembrance: the same event can be remembered in a thousand different ways, and as the years go by, details are bound to fade away, change shape, or take on diverse meanings….
Sounds of Winter: A Raw, Unconventional Romantic Drama
In the last episode of NTV’s Sounds of Winter (yes, last; is this a bit spoiler-y? Perhaps, but I’m not revealing any major details!), the protagonist sits next to her friend on a swing set. She grabs her backpack and pulls a light-blue scarf out of it โ a scarf she spent days knitting herself….
40+ New Japanese Dramas Coming Out in Spring 2026!
A new season always heralds new J-dramas! April arrives with dozens of new Japanese dramas that will certainly make your spring a tad more colourful. So, is everybody ready? Your spring J-drama list is finally out! Here are 40+ new Japanese dramas coming out in April 2026. I’ll do my best to update this article…
30+ Japanese Dramas to Warm Up Winter 2026!
The new year arrives with a bunch of new J-dramas (and the return of some old friends too!). If you’re looking for the most exciting 2026 Winter Japanese dramas coming out in January, look no further. Your Winter J-drama list is finally out! Here are 30+ new Japanese dramas coming out in January 2026. I’ll…
