5 Slice of Life J-dramas You Could Watch

Despite the cheesy titles, which Japanese dramas and anime are known for, their stories are actually relatable, inspiring and comedic. Their life stories make you reflect your own, they bring tears and smile to your face. And I especially love the strong chemistry the characters share with one another.

1. Please Love Me (Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai)

Poster of Please Love Me Protagonists by Asian Wiki

The two main characters are Ayumu Kurosawa (Dean Fujioka) and Michio Shibata (Kyoko Fukada). Michio used to be a salarywoman working in the corporate world for her capable but emotionless employer, Ayumu. But life happens, Michio got laid off and shortly after, Ayumu left the company.

Ayumu takes the opportunity to start his own home cafe as he has a knack for cooking and has never really like working in a rigid office environment. He hires his former school friends who were once misunderstood delinquents as they have problems finding a job with their past records.

Michio have been sleepwalking through life ever since she got retrenched and is at the lowest point of her life, full of debts, feeling lost, confused and lonely, wondering why she cannot be normal like everyone else who have their own families, houses and jobs, until fate has her meet Ayumu again!

Things started to change for better or worse when Ayumu offers Michio a job at his cafe. Out of desperation, she accepted to work temporarily while she searches for another office job. As she gets to know him and his circle of friends, she realizes he is not the person she thought him to be.

2. Rich Man Poor Woman

Poster of Rich Man Poor Woman Protagonists and Antagonists by Asian Wiki

The two main characters are Makoto Natsui (Satomi Ishihara) and Toru Hyuga (Shun Oguri). Makoto is a fresh graduate from a top university who is considered by her lecturers and classmates as smart and intelligent. However, her job hunting did go well causing her to doubt herself more.

Makoto almost gave up on her job search after attending countless interviews where she felt completely exhausted and drained to even answer theoretical questions by interviewers to assess her IQ, until she learns of a career fair conference being held by a popular start-up founder.

To the public, Toru is a charismatic founder of a tech start-up designing and developing apps, websites and softwares. But to his employees, he is an unpleasant perfectionist to work with, who has a habit of micro managing. He is also a school dropout who looks down on university graduates.

Makoto was insulted by Toru for her incompetence in landing a job, citing the uselessness of modern education system for producing such graduates. But Makoto decides to prove him wrong by working for him on a contract basis. Her time working there not only change her but Toru as well.

3. Our Sister's Soulmate (Nee-Chan no Koibito)

Poster of Our Sister's Soulmate Protagonists by Fuji Television

The two main characters are Adachi Momoko (Kasumi Arimura) and Yoshioka Manato (Kento Hayashi). Adachi is an outgoing 27 year old who gave up college to work and support her younger siblings (three brothers) since the death of their parents when she was still in high school.

Adachi's daily life begins to change around halloween when she meets a soft-spoken and kind hearted man, Yoshioka, at her workplace when he was assigned to work with her on a project. Unlike Adachi, Yoshiaka is less upfront about his true feelings and good at hiding his emotions.

This make Adachi more curious into wanting to know more about the real him which caused her to dig into his past and inevitably, discover something which reminded her of her own past which had left her traumatised to this day but has to keep up a strong image for the sake of her younger siblings.

It is a story of people who struggles to let go of the past to move on at present while being anxious about the unknown future. Although there are certain sad scenes, it's a wholesome story as I love how loving, supportive and loving her siblings are in wanting nothing but happiness for her.

4. Why I Dress Up For Love (Kikazaru Koi niha Riyuu ga Atte)

Poster of Why I Dress Up For Love Protagonists by Asian Wiki

The two main characters are Kurumi Mashiba (Haruna Kawaguchi) and Shun Fujime (Ryusei Yokohama). A case of opposite attract between a workaholic public relations executive/social media addict and a minimalist chef/sole proprietor who runs his own food truck business.

Kurumi works for a home decor company, in charge of the public relations and marketing, including running the company's social media page and is determine to get 100,000 followers. She takes pride in being busy and admires her boss who is always on the move, hustling day and night.

Shun used to own a restaurant but it closed down due to his own failures in running the business as he has no clue when it comes to people management. He wants to keep his life as simple as possible ever since to avoid any more disappointments and does not have any social media.

The two end up living together in a co-living space and looks down on each other, thinking that the other way of life does not make sense. But life happens and the two find themselves at the lowest point of their lives as they learn from each other on how to live their lives meaningfully.

5. I'm Taking The Day Off (Kyou wa Kaisha Yasumimasu)

Poster of I'm Taking The Day Off Protagonists by Amino Apps

The two main characters are Hanae Aoishi (Haruka Ayase) and Yuto Tanokura (Sota Fukushi). Hane is a reliable Office Administrator who ensures the company functions efficiently and effectively like clockwork, while Yuto is a university graduate intern who directly reports to her.

Hanae has never taken a day off from work or been late for work throughout her career. She dresses pleasantly plain and has zero dating experience. But she has always been content of her life being single, until now when she is turning 30 and suddenly realised that she is "running out of time".

Yuto is a "ladies man" due to his youthful good looks but even he struggles with his relationship after he broke up with his girlfriend. The two attends a company party and share drinks over their miserable lives. Yuto finds her maturity and composure attractive that he begins to fall for her.

Hanae's life is thrown into confusion going from single to being pursued by two men who are head over heels for her. Overwhelmed by her new dating life, she begin taking off days, surprising her employers and colleagues. She wonders if she wants to be in love or just trying to meet the deadline.

Thoughts

I love these dramas because they are not the typical romance dramas that most people are accustomed to watch where the "prince charming" who has everything comes to the rescue of the helpless "damsel in distress". The women are the ones who change the men in becoming a better person.

They acknowledge and compliment each other as they both struggle with their own demons and lives. They do not tear down each other down despite their differences but compromise and help each other, as they realises what truly matters is the meaningful relationships with those around them.