Ran out of K-dramas to watch? Try these Japanese series for a change of pace

It’s Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, but Eiga Sai, our favorite Japanese film festival, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Good thing there’s Netflix, right? Aside from Japanese films, there’s plenty of J-drama series available for our viewing pleasure.

So if you’re looking for new things to watch, or you’re simply tired of binging K-dramas, why don’t you give these Japanese shows a try? Whatever’s your favorite genre, there’s bound to be something you would like.

1. Good Morning Call

What’s it about? A high school girl is forced to live with the most popular boy in school when they were scammed to rent the same apartment. It’s difficult enough to keep the situation a secret from her family and friends, but it gets more complicated when she starts having feelings for roommate.

Why watch it? It’s a feel-good series about teenage love. If you need your daily dose of kilig, this fits the bill just right.

2. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

What’s it about? It’s a slice of life anthology about different characters visiting a Tokyo diner every night. They bond over the episode’s featured dish and discover something about themselves -- and others.

Why watch it? It’s an interesting study on food as a communal experience. Perfect if you don’t have time to binge and simply want some light entertainment after a whole day of work.

3. Samurai Gourmet

What’s it about? A retired salaryman learns how to live with his newfound freedom by eating whatever he wants. It’s not easy to make the adjustment, but he finds inspiration from the ronin -- samurai without a master -- of feudal era Japan.

Why watch it? There’s something about watching a 60-year-old man enjoying an afternoon beer after depriving himself of such a simple pleasure during his career. We all wish we could the same, don’t we? The food is also awesome and guaranteed to suddenly make you hungry.

4. Border

What’s it about? A detective gets shot in the head while checking the perimeter of a crime scene. He dies on the operating table, but the doctors successfully revive him. When he chooses to keep the bullet inside his head instead of having it removed, he suddenly gains the ability to see the dead.

Why watch it? Oguri Shun is in his element with another Sherlock type role after previously playing Kudo Shinichi in the live-action movie of Detective Conan. Together with his own Watson, a stoic female coroner with a physician’s licence, he solves murder cases while receiving tips from the victims themselves.

5. Switched

What’s it about? A high school girl suddenly finds herself in the body of an unpopular classmate. She is forced to watch as her boyfriend and life are stolen from her, all while learning what it is like to be abused and bullied by her peers.

Why watch it? It’s a dark take on the body-switching trope, but it has heartwarming moments as well. The twists and turns of the plot get you hooked and the great acting blows you away.

6. Spark

What’s it about? An aspiring comedian asks a veteran comic to take him as an apprentice after they met at a summer festival. They dream of making it big in the industry, but struggles follow them every step of the way.

Why watch it? It’s gritty like an indie movie, not at all what you would expect from a show about comedians. At a time when Jo Koy and other jokers are on the rise, it’s interesting to see what their lives are like off the stage.

—JCB, GMA News