top 50 highest-rated Japanese dramas
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Writer AndyKim
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Date 25-01-17 21:41
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Japanese television dramas, known as "doramas," have captivated audiences for decades. Below is a detailed list of the top 50 highest-rated Japanese dramas based on peak viewership percentages:
| Rank | Title | Year | Network | Peak Viewership Rating |
|------|-------------------------------------|------|---------|------------------------|
| 1 | **"Tsumiki Kuzushi"** | 1983 | TBS | 45.3% |
| 2 | **"Mito Kōmon" (Season 9)** | 1979 | TBS | 43.7% |
| 3 | **"Hanzawa Naoki"** | 2013 | TBS | 42.2% |
| 4 | **"Beautiful Life"** | 2000 | TBS | 41.3% |
| 5 | **"Netchū Jidai"** | 1979 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 5 | **"Taiyō ni Hoero!"** | 1979 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 5 | **"Kaseifu no Mita"** | 2011 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 8 | **"3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei"** | 1979 | TBS | 39.9% |
| 9 | **"Hitotsu Yane no Shita"** | 1993 | Fuji TV | 37.8% |
| 10 | **"Good Luck!!"** | 2003 | TBS | 37.6% |
| 11 | **"Akai Gekiryū"** | 1977 | TBS | 37.2% |
| 11 | **"Ie Naki Ko"** | 1994 | NTV | 37.2% |
| 13 | **"HERO"** | 2001 | Fuji TV | 36.8% |
| 14 | **"Edo o Kiru" (Season 4)** | 1979 | TBS | 36.7% |
| 14 | **"101st Proposal"** | 1991 | Fuji TV | 36.7% |
| 14 | **"Long Vacation"** | 1996 | Fuji TV | 36.7% |
| 17 | **"Danjo Shichinin Aki Monogatari"**| 1987 | TBS | 36.6% |
| 18 | **"GTO"** | 1998 | Fuji TV | 35.7% |
| 19 | **"Drama Ningyo Moyō"** | 1978 | NHK | 34.8% |
| 20 | **"Oshin"** | 1983 | NHK | 34.6% |
| 21 | **"Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari"** | 1997 | TBS | 34.2% |
| 21 | **"Yamato Nadeshiko"** | 2000 | Fuji TV | 34.2% |
| 23 | **"Hitotsu Yane no Shita 2"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 34.1% |
| 23 | **"Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta"** | 1992 | TBS | 34.1% |
| 25 | **"Dare ni mo Ienai"** | 1993 | TBS | 33.7% |
| 26 | **"Kōkō Kyōshi"** | 1993 | TBS | 33.0% |
| 27 | **"Ai to Iu Na no Moto ni"** | 1992 | Fuji TV | 32.6% |
| 28 | **"Love Generation"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 32.5% |
| 29 | **"Gokusen 2"** | 2005 | NTV | 32.5% |
| 30 | **"Tokyo Love Story"** | 1991 | Fuji TV | 32.3% |
| 31 | **"Shiroi Kyotō"** | 2003 | Fuji TV | 32.1% |
| 32 | **"Narita Rikon"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 31.5% |
| 33 | **"Under One Roof"** | 1993 | Fuji TV | 31.5% |
| 34 | **"Aishiteiru to Ittekure"** | 1995 | TBS | 31.3% |
| 35 | **"Hoshi no Kinka"** | 1995 | NTV | 31.3% |
| 36 | **"Atsuhime"** | 2008 | NHK | 31.2% |
| 37 | **"Karei-naru Ichizoku"** | 2007 | TBS | 30.4% |
| 38 | **"Pride"** | 2004 | Fuji TV | 28.8% |
| 39 | **"Shitsurakuen"** | 1997 | TBS | 28.3% |
| 40 | **"Hana Yori Dango 2"** | 2007 | TBS | 27.6% |
| 41 | **"Shinya Shokudō"** | 2009 | TBS | 27.3% |
| 42 | **"Nodame Cantabile"** | 2006 | Fuji TV | 27.1% |
| 43 | **"Zettai Kareshi"** | 2008 | Fuji TV | 26.4% |
| 44 | **"Liar Game"** | 2007 | Fuji TV | 26.3% |
| 45 | **"Proposal Daisakusen"** | 2007 | Fuji TV | 26.1% |
| 46 | **"Hotaru no Hikari"** | 2007 | NTV | 26.0% |
| 47 | **"Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu"** | 2016 |
Here’s a detailed explanation of some of the top Japanese dramas from the list. Each has left a significant mark on Japanese television and pop culture.
---
### **1. Tsumiki Kuzushi (1983)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 45.3%
- **Plot**: This family drama explores the collapse of a seemingly perfect family as they deal with their daughter’s rebellious behavior and emotional struggles. Based on a true story, it highlights themes of parenting and societal pressure.
---
### **2. Mito Kōmon (Season 9, 1979)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 43.7%
- **Plot**: A historical drama following the adventures of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, a retired feudal lord who travels the countryside in disguise to help the oppressed. Known for its iconic reveal scene, where justice is served.
---
### **3. Hanzawa Naoki (2013)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 42.2%
- **Plot**: This modern drama focuses on the life of a determined banker, Naoki Hanzawa, who exposes corruption and fights against corporate greed. Known for its famous line, “Double the payback,” it became a cultural phenomenon.
---
### **4. Beautiful Life (2000)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 41.3%
- **Plot**: A heartwarming romance between a terminally ill librarian and a hairstylist. This tearjerker drama explores themes of love, loss, and cherishing life.
---
### **5. Taiyō ni Hoero! (1979)**
- **Network**: NTV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 40.0%
- **Plot**: A police procedural drama following detectives in a Tokyo precinct. Known for its intense action, character-driven stories, and iconic music.
---
### **6. Kaseifu no Mita (2011)**
- **Network**: NTV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 40.0%
- **Plot**: This mystery drama revolves around Mita, a stoic and mysterious housekeeper, who helps a dysfunctional family heal. Her dark past adds depth to the narrative.
---
### **7. 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei (1979)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 39.9%
- **Plot**: Set in a middle school, this drama features a caring teacher, Kinpachi, guiding his students through adolescence, societal issues, and moral dilemmas.
---
### **8. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.8%
- **Plot**: The story of six orphaned siblings who struggle to live together under one roof after their parents’ death. Themes of family, love, and reconciliation are central.
---
### **9. Good Luck!! (2003)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.6%
- **Plot**: Starring Takuya Kimura, this drama follows the life of a commercial airline pilot navigating professional challenges and personal relationships.
---
### **10. Akai Gekiryū (1977)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.2%
- **Plot**: A suspense drama involving crime and human psychology, exploring the complexities of justice and morality.
---
### **11. HERO (2001)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 36.8%
- **Plot**: A legal drama following an unorthodox prosecutor with a unique approach to solving cases. Known for its humor and sharp dialogues.
---
### **12. Long Vacation (1996)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 36.7%
- **Plot**: A romantic comedy about a pianist and a woman who begins living with him after being abandoned on her wedding day. This iconic drama redefined romantic storytelling in Japan.
---
### **13. GTO (1998)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 35.7%
- **Plot**: Based on the manga "Great Teacher Onizuka," this drama features a former gangster-turned-teacher who uses unconventional methods to inspire his students.
---
### **14. Oshin (1983)**
- **Network**: NHK
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 34.6%
- **Plot**: A historical drama chronicling the life of Oshin, a resilient woman who overcomes poverty, hardship, and societal oppression to achieve success.
---
### **15. Tokyo Love Story (1991)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 32.3%
- **Plot**: A classic romance exploring unrequited love, friendship, and heartbreak in Tokyo. It became a defining drama of its era.
---
| Rank | Title | Year | Network | Peak Viewership Rating |
|------|-------------------------------------|------|---------|------------------------|
| 1 | **"Tsumiki Kuzushi"** | 1983 | TBS | 45.3% |
| 2 | **"Mito Kōmon" (Season 9)** | 1979 | TBS | 43.7% |
| 3 | **"Hanzawa Naoki"** | 2013 | TBS | 42.2% |
| 4 | **"Beautiful Life"** | 2000 | TBS | 41.3% |
| 5 | **"Netchū Jidai"** | 1979 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 5 | **"Taiyō ni Hoero!"** | 1979 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 5 | **"Kaseifu no Mita"** | 2011 | NTV | 40.0% |
| 8 | **"3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei"** | 1979 | TBS | 39.9% |
| 9 | **"Hitotsu Yane no Shita"** | 1993 | Fuji TV | 37.8% |
| 10 | **"Good Luck!!"** | 2003 | TBS | 37.6% |
| 11 | **"Akai Gekiryū"** | 1977 | TBS | 37.2% |
| 11 | **"Ie Naki Ko"** | 1994 | NTV | 37.2% |
| 13 | **"HERO"** | 2001 | Fuji TV | 36.8% |
| 14 | **"Edo o Kiru" (Season 4)** | 1979 | TBS | 36.7% |
| 14 | **"101st Proposal"** | 1991 | Fuji TV | 36.7% |
| 14 | **"Long Vacation"** | 1996 | Fuji TV | 36.7% |
| 17 | **"Danjo Shichinin Aki Monogatari"**| 1987 | TBS | 36.6% |
| 18 | **"GTO"** | 1998 | Fuji TV | 35.7% |
| 19 | **"Drama Ningyo Moyō"** | 1978 | NHK | 34.8% |
| 20 | **"Oshin"** | 1983 | NHK | 34.6% |
| 21 | **"Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari"** | 1997 | TBS | 34.2% |
| 21 | **"Yamato Nadeshiko"** | 2000 | Fuji TV | 34.2% |
| 23 | **"Hitotsu Yane no Shita 2"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 34.1% |
| 23 | **"Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta"** | 1992 | TBS | 34.1% |
| 25 | **"Dare ni mo Ienai"** | 1993 | TBS | 33.7% |
| 26 | **"Kōkō Kyōshi"** | 1993 | TBS | 33.0% |
| 27 | **"Ai to Iu Na no Moto ni"** | 1992 | Fuji TV | 32.6% |
| 28 | **"Love Generation"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 32.5% |
| 29 | **"Gokusen 2"** | 2005 | NTV | 32.5% |
| 30 | **"Tokyo Love Story"** | 1991 | Fuji TV | 32.3% |
| 31 | **"Shiroi Kyotō"** | 2003 | Fuji TV | 32.1% |
| 32 | **"Narita Rikon"** | 1997 | Fuji TV | 31.5% |
| 33 | **"Under One Roof"** | 1993 | Fuji TV | 31.5% |
| 34 | **"Aishiteiru to Ittekure"** | 1995 | TBS | 31.3% |
| 35 | **"Hoshi no Kinka"** | 1995 | NTV | 31.3% |
| 36 | **"Atsuhime"** | 2008 | NHK | 31.2% |
| 37 | **"Karei-naru Ichizoku"** | 2007 | TBS | 30.4% |
| 38 | **"Pride"** | 2004 | Fuji TV | 28.8% |
| 39 | **"Shitsurakuen"** | 1997 | TBS | 28.3% |
| 40 | **"Hana Yori Dango 2"** | 2007 | TBS | 27.6% |
| 41 | **"Shinya Shokudō"** | 2009 | TBS | 27.3% |
| 42 | **"Nodame Cantabile"** | 2006 | Fuji TV | 27.1% |
| 43 | **"Zettai Kareshi"** | 2008 | Fuji TV | 26.4% |
| 44 | **"Liar Game"** | 2007 | Fuji TV | 26.3% |
| 45 | **"Proposal Daisakusen"** | 2007 | Fuji TV | 26.1% |
| 46 | **"Hotaru no Hikari"** | 2007 | NTV | 26.0% |
| 47 | **"Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu"** | 2016 |
Here’s a detailed explanation of some of the top Japanese dramas from the list. Each has left a significant mark on Japanese television and pop culture.
---
### **1. Tsumiki Kuzushi (1983)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 45.3%
- **Plot**: This family drama explores the collapse of a seemingly perfect family as they deal with their daughter’s rebellious behavior and emotional struggles. Based on a true story, it highlights themes of parenting and societal pressure.
---
### **2. Mito Kōmon (Season 9, 1979)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 43.7%
- **Plot**: A historical drama following the adventures of Tokugawa Mitsukuni, a retired feudal lord who travels the countryside in disguise to help the oppressed. Known for its iconic reveal scene, where justice is served.
---
### **3. Hanzawa Naoki (2013)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 42.2%
- **Plot**: This modern drama focuses on the life of a determined banker, Naoki Hanzawa, who exposes corruption and fights against corporate greed. Known for its famous line, “Double the payback,” it became a cultural phenomenon.
---
### **4. Beautiful Life (2000)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 41.3%
- **Plot**: A heartwarming romance between a terminally ill librarian and a hairstylist. This tearjerker drama explores themes of love, loss, and cherishing life.
---
### **5. Taiyō ni Hoero! (1979)**
- **Network**: NTV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 40.0%
- **Plot**: A police procedural drama following detectives in a Tokyo precinct. Known for its intense action, character-driven stories, and iconic music.
---
### **6. Kaseifu no Mita (2011)**
- **Network**: NTV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 40.0%
- **Plot**: This mystery drama revolves around Mita, a stoic and mysterious housekeeper, who helps a dysfunctional family heal. Her dark past adds depth to the narrative.
---
### **7. 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei (1979)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 39.9%
- **Plot**: Set in a middle school, this drama features a caring teacher, Kinpachi, guiding his students through adolescence, societal issues, and moral dilemmas.
---
### **8. Hitotsu Yane no Shita (1993)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.8%
- **Plot**: The story of six orphaned siblings who struggle to live together under one roof after their parents’ death. Themes of family, love, and reconciliation are central.
---
### **9. Good Luck!! (2003)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.6%
- **Plot**: Starring Takuya Kimura, this drama follows the life of a commercial airline pilot navigating professional challenges and personal relationships.
---
### **10. Akai Gekiryū (1977)**
- **Network**: TBS
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 37.2%
- **Plot**: A suspense drama involving crime and human psychology, exploring the complexities of justice and morality.
---
### **11. HERO (2001)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 36.8%
- **Plot**: A legal drama following an unorthodox prosecutor with a unique approach to solving cases. Known for its humor and sharp dialogues.
---
### **12. Long Vacation (1996)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 36.7%
- **Plot**: A romantic comedy about a pianist and a woman who begins living with him after being abandoned on her wedding day. This iconic drama redefined romantic storytelling in Japan.
---
### **13. GTO (1998)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 35.7%
- **Plot**: Based on the manga "Great Teacher Onizuka," this drama features a former gangster-turned-teacher who uses unconventional methods to inspire his students.
---
### **14. Oshin (1983)**
- **Network**: NHK
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 34.6%
- **Plot**: A historical drama chronicling the life of Oshin, a resilient woman who overcomes poverty, hardship, and societal oppression to achieve success.
---
### **15. Tokyo Love Story (1991)**
- **Network**: Fuji TV
- **Peak Viewership Rating**: 32.3%
- **Plot**: A classic romance exploring unrequited love, friendship, and heartbreak in Tokyo. It became a defining drama of its era.
---