The new winter 2011 drama season starts in just a couple of months! Here’s a handy preview guide of upcoming dramas. This season is speckled with a few comedy dramas but mainly takes a serious turn with detective and CSI type storylines. What is on your must-watch drama list for this upcoming season?
This article will be updated as new information is confirmed.
Akuto~Juuhanzai Sousa Han
悪党～重犯罪捜査班 [Official Site] | Genre: Suspense Detective
Network/Time slot: TV Asahi Fri 9PM | Start Date: 1/21/2011
Synopsis: You’ll never see detectives like this on TV before. Takahashi Katsunori stars as a “dirty” detective that goes to lengths to capture criminals.
Cast: Takahashi Katsunori, Koizumi Kotaro, Uchiyama Rina, Suzuki Kosuke, Umezawa Tomio, Hirayama Hiroyuki, Murakami Hiroaki
Bartender
バーテンダー [Official Site] | Genre: Human
Network/Time slot: Asahi TV Fri 11:15PM | Start Date: 2/4/2011
Synopsis: Arashi’s Aiba Masaki is a bartender that has the genius ability to heal the mental scars of his customers one-by-one with cocktails. Aiba’s role sounds similar to Yada Akiko’s role in “My Little Chef” if you swapped food with alcohol.
Cast: Aiba Masaki
CONTROL: Hanzai Shinri Sousa
CONTROL: 犯罪心理捜査 [Official Site] | Genre: Psycho-thriller
Network/Time slot: Fuji TV Tue 9PM | Start Date: 1/xx/2011
Synopsis: An overly passionate woman and an overly chill man. Like water and oil, Matsushita plays handsome Segawa Rio a passionate detective with a sense of justice, while Nagumo Jun, played by Fujiki Naohito, is a brilliant and sharp psychology professor with the special ability to analyze human actions and mentality. Kanjani 8’s Yokoyama Yuu is a part of Rio’s police academy.
Cast: Fujiki Naohito, Matsushita Nao, Yokoyama Yuu, Kitamura Yukiya, Usuda Asami, Sato Jiro, Okumura Kae, Katsumura Masanobu, Izumiya Shigeru
Deka Wanko
デカワンコ [Official Site] | Genre: Detective Comedy
Network/Time slot: NTV Sat 9PM | Start Date: 1/15/2011
Synopsis: Deka Wanko is a detective comedy about Hanamori Ichiko (Tabe Mikako) who solves ridiculous cases that might be real with her incredible sense of smell. The “Deka Wanko” manga artist, Morimoto Kozueko, also drew the popular “Gokusen” series.
Cast: Tabe Mikako, Sawamura Ikki, Tegoshi Yuya
Fake Kyoto Bijutsu Jiken Emaki
フェイク 京都美術事件絵巻 [Official Site] | Genre: Mystery
Network/Time slot: NHK Tue 10PM | Start Date: 1/4/2011
Synopsis: “Fake” takes place in Kyoto and Zaizen Naomi plays Urasawa Yuu, a part-time college lecturer with the unique ability to judge fakes. The first episode has Yuu seeing through the authenticity of a historical piece of art. Yuu is formerly an overseas art specialist who plays an active role in the case which brings her back home. At 40, she’s socially awkward and single.
Cast: Zaizen Naomi, Sano Shiro, Fujimura Shiho
Fuyu no Sakura
冬のサクラ [Official Site] | Genre: Romance, Drama
Network/Time slot: TBS Sun 9PM | Start Date: 1/16/2011
Synopsis: The story centers around a glasswork assistant, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi who has never fallen in love and Monami (Imai Miki) who has lost her memory from an accident. This is slated as a pure love story that will rival that of Korea’s smash drama hit, “Fuyu no Sonata” (Winter Sonata).
Cast: Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, Imai Miki, Sato Takeru, Kato Rosa
Gaikoukan – Kuroda Kousaku
外交官・黒田康作 [Official Site] [Official Movie Site] | Genre: Suspense Drama
Network/Time slot: Fuji TV Thu 10PM | Start Date: 1/13/2011
Synopsis: This drama series is a continuation of Oda Yuji’s 2009 film, “Amalfi Megami no Houshuu” (Goddess Amalfi’s Reward). The Amalfi movie centered around Kuroda Kousaku, a diplomat, who investigates a kidnapping case of a Japanese girl in Italy. In the drama installment Oda welcomes a new partner portrayed by Kou Shibasaki. The movie did not depict Kuroda’s past, but his past will be revealed in the drama. The movie was set in Italy’s Amalfi, but the drama will take place in three locales: Japan, San Francisco America, and Mexico. It’s been 5 years since Oda and Shibasaki have starred together in “Kenchou no Hoshi.”
Cast: Oda Yuji, Shibasaki Kou, Katase Nana, Lee Byung Hyun
Gou: Himetachi no Sengoku
江～姫たちの戦国 [Official Site] | [View Trailer] Genre: Historical Period
Network/Time slot: NHK Sun 8PM | Start Date: 1/9/2011
Synopsis: At the heart of the drama, it’s a love story. The story of a country in civil war is told from a female’s point of view. This drama will be somewhat different compared to recent Taiga dramas and historical dramas in regards to military commanders and princesses.
Cast: Ueno Juri, Miyazawa Rie, Mizukawa Asami, Suzuki Honami, Mukai Osamu, Seto Koji
Heaven’s Flower
ヘブンズ・フラワー [Official Site] | Genre: Romance, Mystery
Network/Time slot: TBS Fri 12:20AM | Start Date: 1/14/2011
Synopsis: Heaven’s flower takes place in 2060 and is about pure love and mystery. Kawashima Umika will be playing a cold-hearted emotionless assassin. The story is set in Japan in a barren world where flowers do not bloom. Ai (Kawashima) is a part of a group of assassins, The Last Garden, in the abandoned town of the 7th District. Everyday Ai faithfully executes people as instructed. However, one day Ai meets a detective and they fall in love. A story filled with trust, betrayal, and the secrecy of one’s roots.
Cast: Kawashima Umika, Araki Hirofumi, Ayano Go
Honboshi: Shinri Tokusou Jiken
ホンボシ～心理特捜事件簿 [Official Site] | Genre: Psychological, Mystery, Drama
Network/Time slot: TV Asahi Thu 8PM | Start Date: 1/20/2011
Synopsis: Funakoshi plays an investigator who was a former psychologist and doctor. He can see through people’s expressions and he sets up psychological traps to expose the real criminal. This drama is partially inspired by hit American TV shows, Lie To Me and The Mentalist.
Cast: Funakoshi Eiichiro, Otsuka Nene, Kiriyama Ren
Jidan Koushounin Gota Keshi
示談交渉人ゴタ消し [Official Site] | Genre: Psychological, Drama
Network/Time slot: NTV Thu 11:58PM | Start Date: 1/6/2011
Synopsis: “GotaKeshi” takes a look at understanding the human psyche. In this world, there’s a professional negotiator that erases every single pain. The main character is Shirai Torajirou, Nishino Akihiro, who is a former diplomat. Shirai developed strong negotiation and mental skills on the job and has become a pro at it. He has the ability to free those in pain by seeing through evil intentions and lies.
Cast: Nishino Akihiro, Kutsuna Shiori
Kokuhatsu: Kokusen Bengo Nin
告発～国選弁護人 [Official Site] | Genre: Lawyer, Human
Network/Time slot: TV Asahi Thu 9PM | Start Date: 1/13/2011
Synopsis: Tamura Masakazu will be portraying the lawyer protagonist, Sawara, who can’t ask for any monetary gain from the defendants who seek his counsel. Maya Miki is Tanaka Junko, the younger sister of Sawara’s deceased wife who is supporting Sawara financially and emotionally. Sawara’s only daughter portrayed by Yamaguchi Tomomitsu is a member of the International Physicians for Peace and her fiancee Sato Kengo who is also a member.
Cast: Tamura Masakazu, Maya Miki, and Aibu Saki
Guests: Shaku Yumiko, Kimura Tae, and Ichihara Etsuko
LADY~Saigo no Hanzai Profile
LADY～最後の犯罪プロファイル～ [Official Site] | Genre: Human, Suspense
Network/Time slot: TBS Fri 10PM | Start Date: 1/7/2011
Synopsis: Lady~Saigo no Hanzai Profile takes place in a newly established crime analysis lab at police headquarters. When detectives at the precinct have difficulty in solving a case, they create a criminal profile based on the criminal’s actions and mentality traced from the crime itself. Kitagawa Keiko plays Katsuki Shoko, a young lady who studied criminal profiling at America’s FBI academy. She is then scouted to be the new profiler at the crime lab.
Cast: Kitagawa Keiko, Kimura Tae, Kaname Jun
Misaki Number One!!
美咲ナンバーワン! [Official Site] | Genre: School
Network/Time slot: NTV Wed 10PM | Start Date: 1/12/2011
Synopsis: From the production team that brought the hit series “Gokusen” to life, comes “Misaki Number One!!” Karina (26) is playing the role of “Misaki,” who is a former cabaret girl turned high school teacher. “Misaki Number One!!” is a drama about Tennouji Misaki who struggles to reorganize a problematic Class 2Z. Fujigaya Taisuke is the hot-headed class leader, Kujou Kazuma and Kitayama Hiromitsu will be Kujou’s partner in crime, mood maker, Minato Ryousuke.
Cast: Karina, Fujigaya Taisuke, Kitayama Hiromitsu
Quartet
カルテット [Official Site] | Genre: Drama
Network/Time slot: TBS Tue 1AM | Start Date: 1/18/2011
Synopsis: A late night drama starring Fukuda Saki and Matsushita Yuya. Fukuda Saki is Shun, a tattoo clad 3rd generation orphan in China. Shun and two others assist the police in undercover investigations in the fictional town of Midori where illegals live. “Quartet” is a serious and violent look at the underbelly of a society where people are treated as slaves and used as test dummies for illegal manufactured drugs.
Cast: Fukuda Saki, Matsushita Yuya
School!!
スクール！！ [Official Site] | Genre: School
Network/Time slot: Fuji TV Sun 9PM | Start Date: 1/16/2011
Synopsis: Eguchi Yousuke will play the role of a passionate civilian principal who fights for the revival of a problem ridden public elementary school. The protagonist is director of a mid-sized general contractor for 20 years. As a promise to his respected teacher, he is appointed as the principal to his alma mater since it’s in danger of shutting down. He has the ability to fight for change because of his cheerful personality. This is Eguchi Yousuke’s first school drama.
Cast: Eguchi Yousuke, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kitano Kii, Tsukamoto Takashi, and Kishibe Ittoku.
Shakking II
<シャッキング>II [Official Site] | Genre: Finance, Romance
Network/Time slot: WOWOW Sat 12AM | Start Date: 1/8/2011
Synopsis: A late night drama that revolves around three men who are in serious debt. They join forces to come up with an ingenious plan to pay off their debt. Hongo Keisuke, Nakamura Shunsuke, is the president of a money lending business and Kuroki Miho, Honjo Manami, is a securities analyst. The theme song marks the debut of actor/singer Park Hae Jin.
Cast: Nakamura Shunsuke, Honjo Manami
Shinjuukunichi no Recipe
四十九日のレシピ [Official Site] | Genre:
Network/Time slot: NHK Tue 10PM | Start Date: 2/15/2011
Synopsis:
Cast: Wakui Emi, Fubuki Jun
Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshietekureta
大切なことはすべて君が教えてくれた [Official Site] | Genre: Human Drama
Network/Time slot: Fuji TV Mon 9PM | Start Date: 1/XX/2011
Synopsis: Uemura Natsumi (Toda Erika) and Kashiwagi Shuji (Miura Haruma) are waiting to get married half a year later. However, Shuji makes the mistake of getting involved with a young female student of his portrayed by newcomer Takei Emi. Natsumi is a passionately honest English teacher adored by her students. Shuji, Natsumi’s fiancee, needs to face himself after experiencing jealousy and cruelty caused by his betrayal. Miura has a difficult role to portray as Shuji who has put his fiancee and a female student in pain. Shuji wants to save this student after knowing all the darkness that she holds in her heart.
Cast: Miura Haruma, Toda Erika, Takei Emi
Utsukushii Rinjin
美しい隣人 [Official Site] | Genre: Suspense
Network/Time slot: Fuji TV Tue 10PM | Start Date: 1/11/2011
Synopsis: This drama involves a woman who is wrapped up in jealousy, friendship, and an internal struggle as her everyday life starts to crumble around her. Nakama Yukie disguises her angelic visage for this “wicked” role and terrorizes a neighbor’s (played by Dan Rei) family by getting involved with her husband (played by Watabe Atsuro). “Women love seeing other women in pain.”
Cast: Nakama Yukie, Watabe Atsuro, Dan Rei
*Updated as information comes in*
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